Between April and May 2026, Finland hosted a series of training sessions for trainers as part of the “Mind Over Screens” project, aimed at strengthening the skills of future educators and youth workers in the field of digital literacy.

Participants came from South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) and the South Savo Vocational College (Esedu), representing students preparing for careers in youth work, education, and social services. Across five sessions, 95 participants took part in total, in groups ranging from 15 to 33 people.

One session was also joined by a group of young Spanish exchange students visiting Finland, adding an intercultural dimension to the discussions.

The training was facilitated by Project Manager Elisa Suominen, who had previously attended the international Training of Trainers in Rimini. Sessions were held in person at the Xamk and Esedu facilities and followed a non-formal education approach, combining theoretical input with practical exercises, group work, and simulations. Core themes included digital literacy, critical media consumption, online participation and inclusion, digital wellbeing, and workshop facilitation skills.

Feedback collected through discussions and reflection exercises was largely positive. Participants reported a clearer understanding of digital literacy topics and greater confidence in applying non-formal methods. Some suggestions for improvement related mainly to session length and the inclusion of additional practical examples; no significant issues were reported.

All participants received a certificate of participation, with the option of an additional micro-credential. The training is expected to support participants in applying these competences in future placements, studies, and professional roles working with young people.