From Expertise to Education: Creating Effective Data Storytelling Programs, ForSet, Miriam Gamkharashvili -The workshop will focus on exploring ForSet's journey in building educational programs in the region. It will shed light on the challenges and successes encountered in teaching data communications in regions where data is difficult to obtain. The workshop will delve into how individuals can leverage their expertise to create educational opportunities and the requirements for establishing a career in this field. In conclusion, the workshop will also showcase inspiring materials created by ForSet's program trainees, highlighting their challenges and successes in the field of data despite limited access to open data.

Strategic Response to Russian and Chinese malign influence in Western Balkans, DT Institute, Vukašin Petrović - In the next two years, democratic foreign actors will be focused on political and social situation in certain countries, such as Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia and the USA. Democratic foreign actors will pay just enough attention to development in the Western Balkans to ensure the region’s short-term stability and will not encourage any significant change of political dispensation. Consequently, over the next two years, the region will be even more vulnerable to the Russian and Chinese advances. The strategy session will be based on a modified-table top game designed to identify possible future political scenarios for Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia – countries that are targeted by Russian and Chinese disinformation, propaganda, and other types of malign influence. The session will also explore possible policy and program responses that could protect and promote fundamental freedoms, the integrity of media ecosystems, and democratic values, in a manner that limits the advance of Russian and Chinese influences.