Promoting the inclusion of young people with migrant backgrounds and enhancing the ability of youth workers to support and engage them through digital skills strengthening and identification of online hate incidents.
Description of the project
Across Europe, there is a concerning rise in offensive online language that fuels prejudice, racism, gender discrimination, and hostility toward minorities. Social media can, at times, amplify these narratives, further marginalizing vulnerable groups. In response to this growing issue, it is increasingly urgent to develop educational strategies and effective tools to combat hate speech and foster a more inclusive and responsible digital culture. Artistic and theatrical methodologies can play a key role in strengthening online resilience, helping to create a more respectful and inclusive environment.
Objectives
- Promote the participation of young migrants through the co-creation and dissemination of an inclusive, multidisciplinary method that equips them with the skills needed to counter online hate speech.
- Launch a blended learning initiative that engages both young people and educators in developing innovative online content.
- Enhance the quality and innovation of youth education by creating a methodology that integrates reflective, artistic, and theatrical practices.
Activities
- Development of a 20-hour workshop program, consisting of 10 hours of media literacy and critical analysis and 10 hours of content creation, based on Theatre of the Oppressed, the Critical Incident Technique, and Process Work.
- Participation of 60 young people from minority groups in this training program in France, Italy, Spain, and Lithuania to strengthen digital skills and counter online hate speech.
- Focus groups with young participants in all partner countries to reflect on the developed methodology.
- Launch of an international training in Palermo with 20 young participants to test the co-created method in a multilingual setting.
- Training of 60 youth workers in the SMASH method to equip them with the skills needed to foster the inclusion of minority groups and build digital resilience.
- Creation of a handbook for youth workers to facilitate the replication of the method in different contexts.
- Organization of local events in each country to present the project’s achievements and developed resources.
- Dissemination of project results at an international final conference in Barcelona.
Results
Resources
- SMASH Training: a 20-hour educational program designed for young people and youth workers, but adaptable to other learning contexts. It aims to dismantle online hate speech through an integrated methodology that combines Theatre of the Oppressed, the Critical Incident Technique, and Process Work.
- Reels and memes online: a collection of 40 audiovisual pieces created during the training and shared across multiple platforms (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, WhatsApp) to spark discussions on online hate speech and promote the project’s outcomes.
- SMASH Handbook: a methodological guide translated into all project languages, providing comprehensive information and activities based on the SMASH method. Designed for youth workers, it serves as a key resource for disseminating educational materials and expanding the project’s impact.
Impact
- 60 young people with a migratory background engaged in training activities, including at the international level, on current issues, acquiring the necessary skills to develop online resilience.
- 60 youth workers involved in the same training program to strengthen their ability to support young people.
- New educational resources designed to enhance the ability to identify and deconstruct online hate speech through artistic and expressive activities, available in English, Italian, Spanish, French, and Lithuanian.
- Increased awareness among young people about racist-driven online hate speech and the tools available to combat it.
Partners
- Coordinator: Associacio La Xixa Teatre, Spain
- Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci – ETS, Italy
- BĮ Panevėžio teatras „Menas“, Lithuania
- UAB Theoria, Lithuania
- Respect Zone, France
- L’ARC Taller de Música Fundació Privada, Spain
