WOUNDS: Working On Universal and Normalized Digital wounds in adultS

We applied for this project to address critical issues highlighted by recent data and studies on the use of ICTs and their impact on society. While ICTs are invaluable tools for societal developme...

Our partnership, composed of Von Hope, Permacultura Cantabria, and Petrklic Help, identified critical issues through a Context Analysis and Focus Groups with adult learners and trainers. These studies revealed an urgent need to address Digital Wounds to prevent harmful consequences such as depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, and the escalation of these issues into hate speech and hate crimes. Therefore, the main aim of our project was to work against Digital Wounds and foster a healthy digital environment. The specific objectives were: 1. To complement our expertise in tackling Digital Wounds. 2. To provide adult trainers and adults with tools to combat Digital Wounds together. 3. To empower adult communities to address Digital Wounds and use digital tools ethically.

For managing the project, three transnational meetings were conducted: kick-off in Iceland, intermediate meeting in the Czech Republic, and the final meeting in Spain. A number of online meetings were held throughout the extended lifecycle of the project. The 3-day participatory visit to the Czech Rep. was hosted by Petrklic Help in November 2022 and was dedicated to social media literacy, fact-checking, discussions on social media trolls and disinformation. In June 2022 Permacultura Cantabria delivered the online workshop for book developers who collaborated on the development of the English text of the Interactive Book “The Cyber Shield - A practical guide to protecting yourself from online threats”. The 8-day course hosted by Permacultura Cantabria in Spain in April 2023 was aimed to provide tools and methods to prevent and counteract digital wounds and promote healthier and safer digital spaces. Von Hope held the 3-day participatory visit to Iceland in July 2023 concentrating on the types of prejudices and their influence in digital interactions. The new and improved version of the 121-page interactive book documenting the innovative NO-Digital Wounds Methodology was finally re-issued in June 2024 with additional findings, more practical examples, and enhanced interactive features. It is available in four language versions: English, Icelandic, Spanish, and Czech. We also produced audiobook versions for accessibility. The project results were disseminated both digitally through EU platforms, the partnership’s social media, the project website, and YouTube, as well as offline through conferences and workshops in each partner country.

- Development of an Innovative Methodology: The project produced and documented a pioneering No-Digital Wounds Methodology aimed at addressing Digital Wounds, a modern issue that has not received adequate attention in society. This methodology is now accessible in four European languages through an interactive book and its audio version “The Cyber Shield - A practical guide to protecting yourself from online threats”, which facilitates easy dissemination and implementation. - Enhanced Training Programs: Comprehensive training activities were developed for both 30 adult trainers and 5 learners. These programs equipped participants of the two participatory visits and the training course with the skills and knowledge to identify, prevent, intervene, and counteract Digital Wounds. - Improved Quality of Work for Adult Trainers: Adult trainers enhanced the quality of their daily work by learning to combat misconceptions and misinformation that underpin Digital Wounds. This training empowered them to address these issues effectively without impinging on freedom of speech, thereby preventing escalation into discrimination, hostility, or violence. - Promotion of Healthy Digital Environments: As a result of the training, adult trainers became recognized as valuable references for fostering healthy digital environments. Their ability to address Digital Wounds positively impacted their professional reputation and effectiveness. - Ethical Online Participation: Both adult trainers and learners acquired the ability to engage in online activities under ethical principles. This ethical participation set a positive example for others, promoting the proper use of digital media. - Contribution to Inclusion and Diversity: By reducing Digital Wounds, the project contributed to fostering inclusion and diversity in the digital world. Members of disadvantaged social groups gained the opportunity to participate more equally in digital society, free from stereotypes and discrimination.