Introduction
In the framework of the project “Youth Participation in Digital Democracy: From Digital Skills to Digital Rights of Youth with Fewer Opportunities in the Western Balkans” – EYDR, SCiDEV as the project leader, assisted by our partners CCIS and ESN Albania, organized two focus groups at its offices on 15 and 17 July 2024, with youth and youth from vulnerable groups aged 18-30. These two-hour sessions, combined with the survey results, aim to capture the perspectives of young individuals, especially those from vulnerable groups, on various aspects of digital skills, literacies, and rights and how they correlate to youth participation and activism in the digital sphere. The two focus groups, moderated and facilitated by SCiDEV junior researchers, Ms. Kristel Hasani and Ms. Esmeralda Metko, comprised a total of 15 participants, of which 6 were from vulnerable groups, like rural areas, religious communities, the Roma community, and youth with disabilities. The focus groups were based on methodology approach and research tools developed by our partners: Belgrade Center for Human Rights and Share Foundation. The focus groups followed relevant ethical considerations such as informed consent forms for participation and photographs, confidentiality of responses and a safe and interactive space of discussion.
This brief presents the key insights from these focus groups and their implications for the project. The focus groups also serve to map youth participation in the digital sphere through research. The full report, along with interviews, online survey data collection, and case studies, will be published by SCiDEV in due time.
Focus group 1 (Youth)
The first focus group conducted on 15 July gathered 9 young individuals who engaged in discussions regarding their level of awareness about digital rights and skills, as well as their current level of activist practices in the digital sphere. This focus group served as a medium for the young participants to directly voice their views, experiences, and needs, especially about getting more informed regarding possible privacy violations and general internet security for youth. Suggestions from them include raising the minimal age for creating a social media profile as well as appointing staff in schools responsible for informing and addressing digital rights violations youth may face.
Focus group 2 (Youth from vulnerable groups)
The second focus group of 17 July had 6 young people from different backgrounds, each representing a vulnerable group. One girl was from the Roma community, two brothers from a religious community, two girls with hearing and speech impairments, and one girl living in a rural area. The conversation with them provided valuable insights into the diverse challenges faced by young people today, from access barriers to digital literacy gaps, as well as issues raised in the first focus group related to online safety and privacy. A key outcome of this focus group was the requests from the young participants directed toward government institutions, particularly on how the latter can enhance their efforts to educate and inform more young people about their digital rights. Suggestions included the development of accessible and engaging educational materials, the implementation of interactive workshops and training sessions, and the promotion of digital literacy initiatives tailored to diverse youth.
Final Considerations
The EYDR focus groups have provided deeper insights into the current Albanian landscape of youth digital skills, literacies, and rights. The findings underscore the importance of continuous dialogue and collaboration in addressing the evolving needs and challenges faced by young people in digital environments, particularly those from vulnerable groups. Combined with interviews, online survey results, and case studies, we will have a better understanding of youth levels of digital rights knowledge and civic participation. Moving forward, we plan to incorporate the suggestions into the ongoing initiatives of the EYDR project.
Stay tuned for updates on our website and social media channels as we continue to promote digital skills, literacies, and rights for youth in the Western Balkans.
About EYDR Project
“The Youth Participation in Digital Democracy: From Digital Skills to Digital Rights of Youth with Fewer Opportunities in the Western Balkans” – EYDR project aims to engage, connect, and empower young people in the digital world by developing their digital skills and raising awareness about their digital rights with an approach that balances protection and participation so they can fully participate in the digital democracy. The EYDR project led by SCiDEV brings together a consortium of 7 partners from 4 countries. This project is funded by the Erasmus+ Youth Capacity Building Programme of the European Union.
