From 22 to 24 January 2025, the Mind Over Screens project officially started with a Kick-Off Meeting held in Tirana, Albania, at the Oxygen Boutique Hotel. For three days, partners from across Europe came together to launch a shared journey focused on digital well-being, media literacy, and the impact of social media on young people.

The meeting brought together representatives from all partner organisations:

• YouNet APS, Italy (coordinator)
• Rebus Albania (host organisation)
• Youth for Equality, Slovakia
• Omladinska organizacija Svitac, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Mladiinfo Montenegro
• XAMK – South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, Juvenia Center, Finland

This first in-person meeting was an important moment to get to know each other, align expectations, and build a strong foundation for the next two years of collaboration.

What we worked on during the meeting

The Kick-Off Meeting focused on both the vision of the project and its practical implementation. During the first day, partners introduced their organisations and explored the overall goals of Mind Over Screens, the project structure, and the main activities planned for the next 24 months. Special attention was given to project management, internal coordination, communication tools, and dissemination strategies.

On the second day, the discussion moved to key operational topics such as financial management under Erasmus+ rules, monitoring and evaluation, reporting procedures, and project branding and visibility. These sessions helped ensure that all partners share the same understanding of responsibilities, quality standards, and timelines.

The third day was dedicated to gamification, one of the core methodological elements of the project. Partners explored how game-based approaches can be used to address topics such as social media influence, digital habits, and mental well-being, and discussed how these methods will be integrated into the project’s future outputs and training activities

Looking ahead

The Kick-Off Meeting marked the official beginning of Mind Over Screens, a project that will develop concrete tools and resources such as a handbook, a training curriculum, podcasts, and interactive digital tools and games. In parallel, the partnership will organise local and international activities to support youth workers, educators, and trainers in strengthening their competencies and supporting young people in navigating the digital world in a healthier and more conscious way.

This meeting was not only about planning but also about building trust, motivation, and a shared vision. With strong cooperation and diverse expertise across countries, Mind Over Screens is ready to move forward.

We are just getting started. Follow the project and stay tuned for updates, resources, and upcoming activities!