SURE — AC Romania

SURE Program is a focused initiative to enhance public awareness of harmful disinformation. Launched by American Councils for International Education and EdVenture Partners, SURE aims to promote social cohesion and counter false narratives in Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, where Ukrainian refugees reside. Through a competition among 16 universities, the program equips students with the tools to research and implement campaigns that address disinformation and foster peaceful coexistence between refugees and their host communities.

American Councils and EdVenture Partners Launch SURE Program to Counter Disinformation and Promote Social Cohesion in communities where refugees from Ukraine reside

American Councils for International Education, a leading organization in international academic and cultural exchange, is partnering with EdVenture Partners (EVP) a renowned US-based experiential agency known for creating many of the world’s most important social impact programs for youth on universities, to launch the Students for a United and Resilient Europe (SURE) program. SURE encourages university students to promote social cohesion and counter false narratives in Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the project seeks to increase public awareness about harmful disinformation and ensure peaceful coexistence for Ukrainian refugees in host communities.

American Councils and EVP will implement a competition across 16 universities in 4 different countries. Teams participating in SURE will conduct the primary and secondary research necessary to develop, apply, and measure the success of an online and offline campaign focused on countering propaganda designed to sow tensions between Ukraine, refugees from Ukraine, and refugee hosting communities.

Direct beneficiaries include university students from the four countries, while indirect beneficiaries extend to the general public, NGOs, local business communities, and the media.

The SURE program addresses the threat of disinformation campaigns that aim to create distrust and fear between refugees from Ukraine and their host communities.

With nearly 50 years of international academic and cultural exchange expertise, American Councils leads U.S. government-sponsored programs and student-centered education initiatives in over 115 countries. Collaborating with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Sections, American Councils enhances students' critical thinking and media literacy. EdVenture Partners (EVP), a technical partner in the SURE program, specializes in designing experiential academic programs, empowering students to develop creative solutions to real-world challenges on over 900 universities in 76 countries.

The first Semester of the SURE Program

At the end of July, five finalist teams from Romania, Poland and the Republic of Moldova gathered in Bucharest for the final competition of the first semester of the SURE Program:

Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova - Infolence
Babeș-Bolyai University - away/home
Free International University of Moldova - MediaMind Unity
Jagiellonian University - EMPA (Empathy Media Protection Awareness)
National School of Political and Administrative Studies - Unmasking Lies, Empowering Truth

After 15 weeks of dedicated research, project preparation and implementation, these teams had the opportunity to present their efforts to promote social cohesion and resilience in their communities.

During their stay in Bucharest, participants attended an opening meeting, where they met the teams qualified for the final round of the SURE Program, as well as members of the organizing team. Students were involved in rehearsals for the final evening, receiving valuable feedback and advice from experts from EdVenture Partners. The agenda also included a media literacy workshop by Benjamin Thurn, Program Manager for Media Literacy Programs at American Councils. Beyond the formal activities, students explored Bucharest and socialized with their peers, making the most of their time in Romania's capital.

The Final Competition

The final SURE Program competition took place on July 30, highlighting the passion and dedication of the students who showcased their hard work and commitment to promoting social cohesion and resilience in their communities.

The event was honored by the presence of distinguished guests, including H.E. Kathleen Ann Kavalec, U.S. Ambassador to Romania, and H.E. Ihor Prokopchuk, Ukrainian Ambassador to Romania.

The day was more than just a competition; it was a celebration of unity and the power of young people to create positive change. The connections made and ideas shared underlined the significant impact of cross-border collaboration in strengthening civil society. The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm, dedication and a shared commitment to making a difference.

The Winners of the First Semester

1st place: Jagiellonian University - EMPA (Empathy Media Protection Awareness)

2nd Place: Babeș-Bolyai University - away/home

3rd Place: Free International University of Moldova - MediaMind Unity

Congratulations to the winners for their outstanding achievements and to all participants for their significant contributions to important causes! Your dedication and hard work truly made a difference.

The SURE program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by American Councils for International Education and EdVenture Partners.