Description
The project informs children about risks of using the internet for violence escalation and creates understanding of the issue to prevent them misusing the internet for cyberbullying. An interactive program is created focusing on the theme of internet violence through method of 'forum theater' - a form of theatre in which audience becomes part of the play and influences the direction of a story. The program is implemented in 24 schools in the Czech Republic for audience of about 550 children age 12-16. Program participants are able to recognize hate speech on the internet and capable to defend themselves succesfully in case of a hate attack. The project also enables some pupils to volunteer in the information campaign via project's web pages created to advertise the core idea "Hate does not belong on the internet" with target audience of cca 4400 pupils. The web pages describe and help to understand risk of cyberbullying as well as available options for help. During final stage of the project the know-how is handed over to 6 organizations from the Association of Drama Centers of the Czech Republic and thus enable the centers to continue similar projects in next 6 Czech cities.
Summary of project results
The project informed children about risks of using the internet for violence escalation and created understanding of the issue to prevent them misusing the internet for cyber-bullying. An interactive program/lesson was created within the project framework, focusing on the theme of internet violence through method of 'forum theatre' - a form of theatre in which audience becomes part of the play in key moments to influence story direction of the lead drama-hero. Our second goal was to show children that they can be active part of society by participating in the project, so they could become a volunteer in school campaign. This was the key activity to inform other pupils in school about the website for victims and witnesses of cyberattacks or cyberbullying. The website can lead to find the right help for victims. The last part of the project was to transfer know-how of leading the program and the campaign to other organisations from large Czech cities. The program was implemented in 24 schools in the Czech Republic for audience of 577 children. Program participants are now able to recognize hate speech on the internet and are capable to defend themselves successfully in case of a hate attack. The project also enabled some participants of the program to volunteer in an activity beneficial to the public via joining the information campaign. It was launched in the same schools and had target audience of 5 021 pupils. It informed pupils about the project web pages. During final stage of the project the newly created know-how was handed over to 12 befriended organizations from the Association of Drama Centres of the Czech Republic and thus enabled the centres to continue similar projects in next 6 large Czech cities (Praha, Brno, Plzeň, České Budějovice, Ostrava, Hradec Králové).
Summary of bilateral results