Pop-Up Event with CONFERENCE
“Digital citizens: rights, responsibilities and critical thinking in the digital age”
You are invited, dear academics, researchers, practitioners, journalists and citizens, to exchange ideas, views and good practices for prevention (in education, working with the public sector, civil society and the media) to tackle gender-based disinformation. This event will provide you with an opportunity to renew old acquaintances, make new contacts, build networks and facilitate partnerships across borders.
The G-LENS (Gender-Inclusive, Long-lasting and Empowered Networks and Societies) project, co-funded by the EU CERV programme, includes research, education and advocacy, with the aim of empowering young people to create a more inclusive and democratic digital environment. The conference is hosted by the Bulgarian partner OPEN SPACE Foundation, a non-governmental organization dedicated to building an inclusive society through education and active civic participation. We believe that young people are the driving force for change, and our main mission is to empower them to be responsible and engaged citizens.
All events are free, but some require pre-registration.
Programme:
OCTOBER 9 | Thursday | Parking lot of Vasil Levski Stadium (from General Yosif V. Gurko Street)
10:00 – 16:00 – Escape Truck interactive game for prevention of trafficking and labor exploitation
Participation is free, but pre-registration is required: here.
OCTOBER 10 | Friday | Largo Area, located under Independence Square, Sofia
9:00 – 9:30 Registration for the conference and exhibition
9:30 – 9:45 Opening remarks and greetings
- CONFERENCE:
9:45 – 11:00 | Panel 1: Digital citizenship and rights in the digital age
We will seek an answer to the question of what is the interaction between technologies and the formation of digital citizenship; we will explore its relationship with fundamental rights and responsibilities in the online space.
Adv. Julieta Mandazhieva – (Bulgaria)
Digital rights in Bulgaria and her analysis for the annual report “Human Rights in Bulgaria in 2024” of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
Georgi Petrov, PhD – Citizen Participation Forum (Bulgaria)
Empowering digital citizenship: Online tools for civic participation and inclusive, transparent governance
Sonia Horonziak, PhD – Institute of Public Affairs (Poland)
The role of disinformation in influencing public opinion, its impact on democratic processes and polarization of public opinion.
Elisa Rapetti, PhD – Dear Network (Italy)
The participation of young people in digital governance issues: pedagogical aspects of digital transformation, especially as it relates to citizenship and democratic education.
- Moderator: Georgi Elenkov – National network for children
11:00 – 11:30 | Break
11:30 – 13:00 | Panel 2: Media literacy and Disinformation
We will focus on specific harmful narratives. We will also look at the role of the media and entertainment industry in combating disinformation and harmful narratives: How the media can be part of the solution.
Maria Yоurоukova, PhD and Adriana Dikancheva – Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski” (Bulgaria)
Presenting DisInfoHack 2025, part of the Academy for Countering Disinformation (CoDE Academy) in Bulgaria
Prof. Olga Jurash, Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Women’s Online Advocacy (UK)
Legal and policy responses to online violence against women, harms of online violence against women in politics and online misogyny
Mina Kurteva – Sofia Development Association (Bulgaria)
Hate speech and Disinformation. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on the topic: gender-based disinformation, available to educators and civic activists
Anjali Avatapalli, Disinformation Analyst and Presidential Fellow, Center for Information, Democracy and Citizenship (CIDC) at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) (Bulgaria)
Critical assessment, research and educational initiatives that cultivate ethically grounded leaders who are adept at navigating the digital landscape.
Iskra Dzhanabetska – educational platform Knigovishte (Bulgaria)
Vijte.bg – the first Bulgarian media that addresses children aged 7 to 14 and gamified methods for working with young people
- Moderator: Maria Milkova – journalist
13:00 – 14:00 | Break
14:00 – 15:30 | Panel 3: Young people on social network
Psychological impact of the digital world: psychological aspects of digital citizenship, including cyberbullying and the influence of social media on the formation of values, lifestyles and behaviors of young people.
Parents Association, Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA), and National Network for Children
present the activities of the National center for safer internet (NCSI), the challenges on the Internet and safe behavior in the digital worldpresent.
Prof. Malgorzata Wojcik – University of Social Sciences and Humanities Warsaw (Poland)
Represents the Bullying Research Center (BRC) at SWPS University, where she leads a team of researchers who develop projects and systems that promote a positive school climate and prevent bullying.
Kamila Lenczewska – Center for Intercultural Initiatives Association “Horizonty” (Poland)
The “Body Liberation” Campaign, which challenges harmful narratives about body shapes, sizes and appearance and addresses the ways in which women are marginalized because of their bodies.
+ participants in the discussion:
Viktoria Mirinska and Gergana Dimitrova – students at Sofia University “Kliment Ohridski” (Bulgaria)
They will answer questions about what participation in DisInfoHack 2025, part of the Academy for Countering Disinformation (CoDE Academy) in Bulgaria, gives them
- Moderator: d-r Radosveta Stamenkova – Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA)
- EXHIBITION: Largo Zone, located under Independence Square, Sofia
9:30 – 16:00 – Games, educational tools and good practices for developing critical thinking
NGOs, training institutions, publishers present resources for developing critical thinking and media literacy
11:30 – 16:00 – Workshops (coming soon)
- G-LENS Social Hub – networking meeting*
19:00 – 20:30 | Let’s be offline for a short time, an informal meeting for future partnerships
*Entrance with invitations
OCTOBER 11 | Saturday | Largo Zone, located under Independence Square, Sofia
10:00 – 11:30 | Ctrl+Alt+Delete: Reboot Your Power When Things Go Wrong
Lead by: Stalo Lesta (Cyprus)
Workshop for 16-18 years old, 20 participants
*Registration for participation: here
When sexting goes wrong, it can feel like all control is lost. But young people are not powerless. In Ctrl+Alt+Delete, we’ll dig into what really happens when private images are shared without consent—and what can be done next. Through open conversations and practical strategies, we’ll explore how to respond, recover, and claim back the power. While you can’t always undo the share, you can take back the story.
12:00 – 13:30 | Coping with stress and tension
Lead by: Marta Szumniuk (Poland)
Workshop for 16-18 years old, 20 participants
*Registration for participation: here
An interactive session that helps young people recognise stressors amplified by the digital world (constant notifications, comparison, online conflicts, misinformation) and respond with practical tools. Through short movement and theatre-based exercises, breathwork, grounding, and boundary-setting, participants will build a personal “first-aid kit” for tension and anxiety—online and offline.
14:00 – 15:30 | From Fear to Freedom: Challenging Rape Culture and Building Healthy Online Spaces through Empowerment and Critical Thinking
Lead by: Simona-Maria Chirciu (Romania)
Workshop for 18+ years old, 25 participants
*Registration for participation: here
This interactive workshop with a sensitive but so needed theme explores how rape culture is perpetuated online through gender stereotypes, harassment, and fear – and how young people can challenge it by using their rights, responsibilities, and critical thinking as digital citizens. Together, we will unpack the subtle ways in which harmful norms show up on social media, and learn how to transform these dynamics into healthy, respectful, and empowering online spaces. Through open discussion and practical exercises & games, participants will discover strategies to protect themselves and others, to build solidarity, and to claim freedom and dignity in the digital world.
Important dates:
Registration deadline for EXPO participants: 25 September 2025
Contact with participants 30 September 2025
Event: 9 – 10 – 11 October 2025
For contact and additional information: info@openspacebg.com
