SUM Project Update: Seniors taking the lead against misinformation
Since October 2025, organisations from Belgium, Spain, Italy and Czechia have been working together on SUM (Seniors United Against Misinformation), a European project that aims to strengthen the ability of older adults to navigate information and misinformation.
The idea behind SUM is simple: through train-the-trainer sessions, older adults not only learn how to critically assess news and information, but are also encouraged to share these skills with their peers. In this way, we are building media literacy together: by seniors, for seniors.
The project has now completed its first nine months. The first train-the-trainer sessions have taken place in various countries, and here and there some excellent peer-to-peer sessions are already being planned and organised. The paragraphs below provide a brief update on what is happening in the various countries.
Belgium
In Belgium, the first train-the-trainer phase of SUM was organised in Leuven and Roeselare. In total, four workshops were held, two in each city, bringing together 25 older adults (13 in Leuven and 12 in Roeselare).
From the start, there was a strong sense of engagement and curiosity among participants. Many came with a clear interest in understanding how mis- and disinformation works and how they can better protect themselves and others online. Even participants who initially felt unsure about their digital skills quickly became actively involved throughout the sessions.
A large part of the discussions focused on real-life experiences. Topics such as phishing, fake social media profiles, and false death announcements of famous Belgian celebrities circulating online strongly resonated with the group. Many participants were already familiar with these issues, often because they had encountered them directly or knew someone who had been affected.
Rather than focusing only on theory, the sessions were built around discussion-based work forms such as talk tables and experience sharing. This approach proved particularly effective: participants learned from each other, exchanged personal stories, and reflected together on how to recognise and respond to misleading information.
The training was evaluated very positively overall. Participants highlighted the value of learning in a supportive group setting, especially for those who initially felt they were “not very digital”. By the end of the sessions, confidence had clearly grown across the group.
After the training, participants started translating their learning into practice. Many are now preparing their own peer-to-peer initiatives within their existing networks such as local senior associations (for example OKRA), neighbourhood groups, or community settings. Some are planning talk tables, others are developing quizzes, informative sessions, or even simple boardgames designed to spark discussion about mis- and disinformation. Several initiatives are also being developed in collaboration with libraries, with an eye on activities during the Flemish “Digital Week” in October.
What stands out most is that almost all participants are now actively taking steps to organise something in their own context. This reflects one of the key strengths of the SUM approach: not only raising awareness, but enabling older adults to become active multipliers within their own communities.
Looking ahead, the Belgian team will build on these first experiences to further strengthen the peer-to-peer model and support volunteers as they roll out their own sessions in the coming months.
Spain
In Spain, the first train-the-trainer phase of SUM took place in Barcelona in March, where 16 participants from the Sindicat de Periodistes de Catalunya (regional member union of the FeSP) were trained to become peer educators. Since completing the training, engagement has remained strong, with eight participants recently attending a volunteer meeting to prepare for the next stage of the project.
The training combined practical verification techniques with collaborative discussion and peer learning. While participants already demonstrated a strong understanding of misinformation, the sessions significantly increased their confidence in helping others verify content, recognising warning signs of misleading information, and engaging in conversations with people who believe false claims. Participants particularly appreciated the clear facilitation, interactive format, and opportunity to exchange experiences with others. Feedback also identified the value of additional practical exercises and follow-up support to build confidence in leading peer-to-peer activities independently.
Following the training, volunteers have begun preparing to put their learning into practice. Four peer-to-peer sessions are already scheduled for July in community settings across Barcelona and its metropolitan area: Casal de Gent Gran La Palmera, Centre Cívic Bon Pastor, Centre Cívic Parc Sandaru, and the Associació Centre Educatiu Esclat Bellvitge. These sessions will allow trained volunteers to share their knowledge with older adults in their own communities while continuing to strengthen the peer-to-peer model.
In Barcelona, involving journalists and former journalists from the union in the Train-the-Trainers activities has proved highly effective. They are already close to the media environment and highly aware of the problem of misinformation, which makes them especially committed participants. We hope to find the same level of engagement in other cities across Spain, and we are also looking forward to hearing how they feel in the first training sessions they are delivering. It would be good to get their feedback and also to find the most effective tool to stay connected (intranet, Google group…)
Looking ahead, the Spanish team will continue supporting volunteers as they deliver these first peer-to-peer sessions and expand the network to other areas of Spain.
Italy
In Italy, the first round was held at an elderly care center in Bologna, where we initially met a large group of people, but not everyone was motivated to become a trainer, despite strong interest in the content. From this, we learned our first lesson: talking directly with potential trainers, rather than to a generic office desk, when presenting the project is key to motivating a group.
Also, we had some issues explaining that privacy was necessary to be understood and signed before the start of the project, finding that some distrust was rising even though we were in a safe space and presenting an EU-funded project.
The training focused not only on scams and recent fake news, but also on AI, with practical exercises to recognize false images or videos and proposals for activities to interact with it in a positive way.
We think that this issue is key as the use of Gemini and chatbots is rising in these generations as well because it is often integrated into cell phones, and we have to avoid misuse or addiction and always promote a correct way of verifying information and sharing private information and data.
Despite this start, the trainers engaged in a rich conversation about their experiences and were very interested in the content.
The four trainers who completed the training and organized their peer-to-peer sessions were strongly motivated, and they actively found several groups of people, holding more than one meeting in one case to reach the number requested, and updating the slide content based on the groups they were going to meet to have a higher level of interaction and engagement.
Their initial insecurity turned into the strength to pass on their knowledge to their peer group; at the same time, they had the courage to ask for support when organizing their respective meetings, especially in finding locations or managing the materials.
Trying to do the bureaucracy and the surveys in the pauses/end of the meetings, and when possible, doing it together to make it a moment of collaboration (sharing experiences and backgrounds) is something they suggested, as well as simplifying the surveys, especially for the peer sessions because in some cases we have sight issues or very old people.
Looking ahead to the next group, we will adjust some issues (motivation from the start, simplifying surveys, giving more materials in an online repository), but we are confident that we’ll reach the goals and strengthen dialogue around media literacy.
This aspect was very interesting for us to observe, as they were using the materials with such confidence, understanding what was relevant and what could be added or updated to be more recognizable for their group of peers.
Participation is always unbalanced in terms of gender, with 80% of women both in the trainings and the peer to peer sessions.
Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, the first train-the-trainer phase of the SUM project took place in Prague, where 14 older adults from a long-standing media literacy club joined the programme to prepare for their new role as volunteer ambassadors against misinformation.
The training consisted of a series of interactive workshops combining media literacy topics with practical facilitation skills. From the beginning, participants showed great interest in discussing the challenges and opportunities that come with living in an increasingly digital world.
One topic that resonated strongly throughout the sessions was the rapid pace of technological change. Many participants expressed feeling overwhelmed by the speed at which new technologies emerge and evolve. Several noted that younger generations often understand digital tools well but sometimes struggle to explain them in a patient and accessible way. The training demonstrated that when information is presented at the right pace and in a supportive environment, older adults quickly gain confidence and become more willing to engage with technology.
An especially interesting aspect of the discussions was the role of life experience in evaluating information. Participants highlighted that having lived through different political and social systems has taught them to question information sources and compare different perspectives. This experience proved valuable during conversations about misinformation, critical thinking, and online trustworthiness. At the same time, many participants voiced concerns about emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and the increasing difficulty of distinguishing between authentic and manipulated content.
Beyond media literacy, the training also addressed an important social challenge: isolation among older adults. Participants appreciated the opportunity to meet, exchange experiences, and discuss different viewpoints in a respectful and supportive setting. The workshops helped create a sense of community and reinforced the idea that learning is most effective when it happens together.
Following the completion of the training phase, participants are now preparing to share their knowledge with others through peer-to-peer activities. Planned initiatives include discussions in libraries, workshops in senior clubs and community centres, and informal learning activities within existing local networks. The Czech team will also use a duo-lecturing approach and a buddy system, enabling volunteers to support one another while delivering activities.
Through these initiatives, the project aims to reach at least 150 older adults across the Czech Republic and strengthen their resilience against misinformation, online scams, and other digital risks. In the coming months, the Czech team looks forward to supporting the first peer-to-peer sessions and further strengthening intergenerational dialogue around media literacy and informed participation.
Building a European Network Together
The SUM project will run until September 2027. In each participating country, volunteers are being trained to support other older adults in developing critical information skills and resilience against mis- and disinformation. Together, these efforts are helping to create a growing European network of organisations and volunteers committed to media literacy, critical thinking and informed participation.
Over the coming months, we look forward to seeing the first peer-to-peer sessions take place and to learning from the experiences of both volunteers and participants. We will continue to share updates as the project progresses.