The European Union supports digital literacy for youth through comics
In April 2025, the team from the Media Centre for Youth launched the MIL Comics Roadshow — a media literacy campaign that will reach 16 communities across Moldova, from north to south. Its goal is to help young people better understand the challenges of the online environment, including information sources, online safety, the influence of bloggers, and civic activism.
The campaign features a set of printed comics designed for teenagers and includes interactive activities. Among these is an academic debate on online safety, where two teams argue their points using evidence, examples, and critical thinking. This helps participants develop their analytical and communication skills.
An online quiz is also part of the campaign, featuring questions about the comic characters. Youth who test their digital knowledge and win receive prizes.
The MIL Comics Roadshow extends to social media platforms, while a branded minibus with campaign visuals ensures visibility during community visits. Activities are held in Romanian or Russian, depending on the region, so all young participants can understand the messages and engage actively.
The project aims to reach as many young people as possible throughout the country, helping them navigate the digital world safely and mindfully, while providing them with accessible tools to understand the online environment.
What is MIL Comics?
It’s a comic book story — a visual, accessible and engaging format that helps teenagers explore online challenges and learn how to avoid manipulation on social media, disinformation, and hate speech spread by trolls and bots. The comics are available in print and digital format, in both Romanian and Russian.
“It was my first time debating, and I realized how important it is to have solid arguments, not just opinions. The topic of online safety really opened my eyes — a lot of the content I see every day isn’t fact-checked. Now I know what to look out for and how to talk about it.”
— Vlad, 17, Hîncești“The comics gave me a clear example of how easily we can be manipulated.”
— Anastasia, 16, Abaclia
The team behind the Media Centre for Youth hopes this campaign will empower as many young people as possible to navigate the online space with confidence and awareness.
The MIL Comics Roadshow is part of the “TRIMEDIA – Trusted Journalism, Impactful Media, Engaged Communities” project, implemented jointly by DW Akademie and the Association of Independent Press, with financial support from the European Union and co-financing by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
