Description
Hip Hop. Stop Haters! is an initiative proposed by the Villa Decius Association, a promoter of tolerance and equal opportunities in local settings, to fight against discrimination and hate speech through self-irony, comic relief, music and film. The project offers a series of 10 three-day workshops on critical observation, musical workshops for middle school students in 10 small communities in Poland, a production of a documentary video and the development of on-line portal run by young people. The project intends to tap into the creative potential of young people in small communities to make headway against discrimination and hate speech in communities facing marginalisation and to encourage young people to take part in public life. The project will be implemented with partners: professional artists (actors, musicians, filmmakers) who will provide expert advice, ensure high quality of the activities and help promote the project.
Summary of project results
"The Willa Decjusza Association has conducted an ex-ante needs assessment in the community. It has revealed a major gap between public participation in large and medium sized cities versus small towns and villages. Access to culture and education outside school is limited in the latter. Therefore, the potential and talent of young people often goes unnoticed and unutilised thus leaving youth uncommitted to community affairs and civic initiatives. Furthermore, the research also shows a growing pattern of hateful behaviour at school. The faculty appear helpless and claim there is not enough specialised training and resources available to them. The project aimed at involving young people in small communities in arts projects, doing things for others, learning to prevent discrimination and hate speech by using improvisation techniques, music and film. The project helped 388 young people learn how to use new media responsibly and how to identify hate speech. Young people have changed their attitude to language, learn to react to discriminating behaviour both in real life and in the Internet. The project completed sever critical observation workshops and music activities for middle school youth in small communities. Based on the workshop, the participants put on school plays and developed a online portal and a documentary video about fighting hate speech. The project reached out to youth in small communities in the Małopolska, Masovia, Western Pomerania, Podlasie and Warmia and Mazury provinces. The project was implemented in partnership with the Moma Film Foundation which co-organised the workshops, managed the musicians and helped with film logistics; The 'Sideways Lift' Creative Initiatives Association managed communications with schools and education institutions and contributed to the online portal; Stand Up Polska delivered the critical observation workshop. The partnership has spawned another project called 'Large Dogs Don't Bark' is a follow-up to the 'Hip hop Hate Stop!' project."
Summary of bilateral results