We Against Hate Speech 2.0 – Culture Goes Europe

Start & End Date: 28.06.2016-01.12.2016
Place: Weimar, Sajan
Participating Countries: Germany, Serbia
Project Partner: Youth Meeting and Education Center Sajan (RS)
Number of Participants: 48 participants

Grant giver: Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future”, KJP
Programme: Europeans for Peace
Grant Amount: 19,432 EUR

This project dealt with the rapidly growing phenomena of hate speech on social networks and internet portals, which now is becoming more and more widespread and harmful. The two youth exchanges which were held as part of this project addressed the topic of hate speech through discussions about prejudice, discrimination, exclusion, propaganda, online/offline hate speech and other important topics. During the youth exchanges we drew a parallel between what happened in the period of National Socialism due to the strong propaganda and use of hate speech. The line of comparison between the influence of propaganda in Germany and Serbia was drawn.

The aim of the project was to establish and define tools for suppression and prevention of hate speech and discrimination. Tools which are accessible to each one of us who want to use them. The outcome of the Youth Exchange is an online exhibition which will be designed by participants themselves.

To reach the aims or the project, we designed two main activities:
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[ap_tab title=”Activity. 1 – Youth Exchange in Weimar”]Youth Exchange held from the 6th till 14th of August in Weimar, Germany.

In the youth exchange in Weimar participants had an opportunity to get familiar with the basic principles of discrimination, hate speech and prejudices. Topics were further developed through simulations, exercises, group and team activities. Historical context of both Germany and Serbia was considered throughout the pre-game of the Youth Exchange. Therefore, the topic of hate speech was approached from the comparative perspective. Through the work participants were jointly defining dangers that hate speech can cause to democracy and human dignity.

Objectives of the Youth Exchange are:

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[ap_li]to raise awareness about the complex topics of prejudice, discrimination and exclusion among participants;[/ap_li]
[ap_li]to learn and discuss about the complex topic of hate speech (who are actors, dangers hate speech brings, dichotomy between hate speech and free speech, etc.);[/ap_li]
[ap_li]to learn about the historical connections and linguistic references of propaganda in the past and the one appearing today;[/ap_li]
[ap_li]to learn how to initiate strategies for action and encourage young people to take similar actions in real life;[/ap_li]
[ap_li]to encourage young people to show that we are not powerless in the face of hate speech;[/ap_li]
[ap_li]to encourage intercultural learning.[/ap_li]
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Number of participants: 24

Profile of participants: Youngsters aged between 16 and 21 from Germany and Serbia.
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[ap_tab title=”Activity. 2 – Youth Exchange in Sajan”]Youth Exchange held from the 8th till 16th of October in Sajan, Serbia.

The second youth exchange brought into focus personal driving forces of the explored phenomenon of the hate speech. The group worked closely on building trust and confidence in each other. Important part of the program was peace and conflicted management approaches, introduced by the trainers.

Objectives of the Youth Exchange are:

Number of participants: 24

Profile of participants: The participants of the youth exchange in Weimar.[/ap_tab]
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Methodology

A mix of formats and methods was implemented during the activities. In this way, methods of out-of-school / non-formal (youth) education such as media inputs, simulations, exercises, group work and self-research, discussions with experts / affected parties and excursions to relevant learning places were taken into account. That enabled an intensive, multiperspective view of the content. For the design and technical implementation of the planned online exhibition were organized special media workshops and provided professional support. In order to promote the co-operation and the integration of the bi-lateral group, there were daily team-building exercises. In addition, small evaluations took place daily in the morning and in the evening in order to cautiously counter program and content questions, including any emotional uncertainties that arose in the face of the difficult subject matter.

Impact

With this project we want to sensitize prejudice, discrimination and exclusion to its participants in order for them to become multipliers on the phenomenon of Hate Speech. The online exhibition – an outcome of the two exchanges – is presented as part of an (analogue) vernissage, which also officially concludes the bi-lateral meetings. Participants (experts, organizations) who have gained their expertise and experience during the course of the project as well as people from the immediate surroundings of the participants (friends, classmates, family) will be exposed to this exhibition of media content and, therefore, directly influenced.

Gallery

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[ap_slide target=”_self”]https://www.cge-erfurt.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/We_Againts_Hate_Speech_Weimar_2016_photo1.jpg[/ap_slide]
[ap_slide target=”_self”]https://www.cge-erfurt.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/We_Againts_Hate_Speech_Weimar_2016_photo2.jpg[/ap_slide]
[ap_slide target=”_self”]https://www.cge-erfurt.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/We_Againts_Hate_Speech_Weimar_2016_photo3.jpg[/ap_slide]
[ap_slide target=”_self”]https://www.cge-erfurt.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/We_Againts_Hate_Speech_Weimar_2016_photo4.jpg[/ap_slide]
[ap_slide target=”_self”]https://www.cge-erfurt.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/We_Againts_Hate_Speech_Weimar_2016_photo5.jpg[/ap_slide]
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Videos

Testimonials

[ap_testimonial image=”https://scontent.ftxl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13226793_10206557325952592_6101624470899395476_n.jpg?oh=5071842456443763c2ed66520809e73a&oe=59762E11″ image_shape=”undefined” client=”Zafar Saydaliev” designation=”Trainer in Activity. 1″]
Working as a Trainer in this project “We Against Hate Speech 2.0″ in Weimar was a life changing experience for me, not only because participants from both Serbia and Germany were exceptionally active and talented, but also because the topic of the project made me and my colleagues to look at the current political situation in Europe from a different perspective. It was an opportunity to create something new and engaging, something that makes people think of their actions, both online and offline, and be responsible for their actions. I hope that with this project we were able to have an impact on young people, who will eventually become leaders of Europe, the Europe that we would like to see, the Europe where we would like to live in!
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[ap_testimonial image=”https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13627086_793704852487_426508359594679477_n.jpg?oh=660bc0b823f407fa6e65ecfced1e5999&oe=59BE7F9F” image_shape=”undefined” client=”Grigoriy Grigoryev” designation=”Participant of Activity. 2″]
The time in Sajan flew by and never have I thought so much about words, sentences, thoughts and ideas. My group ended up shooting a movie that questioned labels we are given and those we accept. People are a spectrum and their spirits are as well. I still enjoy looking back at what we produced and memories we had.
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Dissemination Materials
Not available yet.