Approximately 50 social mediators from Portugal’s Programa Escolhas, a long-standing national governmental initiative dedicated to promoting social inclusion and equal opportunities, participated in two webinars organised by the Algowatch project on 8th May. The initiative, titled “AI I think – Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Critical Thinking,” was part of the national ‘7 Dias com os Media’ event and was held in partnership with the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) and the Portugal Media Lab mission structure.

The workshops, led by researcher Vitor Tomé, ran from 10:30 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 16:00. They focused on exploring the resources created within the Algowatch project, including ice-breakers, a glossary, quizzes, and the Eunopia video game. These mediators, whose mission is to develop activities with diverse audiences across the 118 projects they currently run nationwide, will now integrate these resources into their activities throughout May. Their feedback on the usage of these materials will contribute to their validation. Participants were also invited to visit the Algowatch exhibition, which opens this month at the NewsMuseum in Sintra.

The Escolhas Programme is currently in its 9th generation (E9G), running from October 2023 to September 2026. Its core mission is to foster social integration, enhance educational and employment opportunities, develop critical skills, leverage the educational power of arts and sports, combat discrimination, and strengthen social cohesion. It primarily targets children and young people aged 6 to 25 from vulnerable socioeconomic backgrounds, implemented through locally based projects delivered by consortia of public and private entities.