Description
Most young people are indifferent to human rights violations and the consequences the violations of the rights of individuals might have. Their attitudes towards minorities are affected by prejudices and therefore, it is not surprising that they view Roma in a negative way. Our experience and studies show that the prejudices of young people who don't know any Roma are even deeper. They are poorly informed about other minorities and know stories of injustice and violated rights of individuals only from the media. A young person without the poorly developed critical sense can thus be easily influenced. Screening of documentaries is a proven and efficient method to educate young people in human rights and to bring students and pupils to think about the values of a tolerant and democratic society. The idea of human rights education and learning of basic values through documentary films, if not new, will be transformed through innovative design of the methodological support for teachers and educators. Regular screenings of the film club will help to increase students' interest in world affairs and willingness to influence the course of events around them. Project film club will also encourage lively debate, where young people can shape their own opinion, so that in the future they knew to be active citizens, they were more tolerant and mutually supportive and understand the need to protect and promotion of human rights and freedoms.
Summary of project results
Approximately over 1500 young people have seen at least one of the films so far, and the project keeps going after the end of the grant. The schools are able to use the films and materials after the end of the project and the materials and films are still distributed to new schools and therefore the sustainability of the project is guaranteed. The materials were distributed to nearly 80 schools, 14 teachers participated at the audio-visual training and the database of 20 films was created and made public. The database is accompanied with the activity ideas and workshops (methodologies). Current situation in Europe: anti-Roma and anti-refugees marches, the widely spread prejudice against minorities, the negative public discourse about the minorities, and populist governmental representatives. We live in the information era, overwhelmed by facts and pseudo-facts. It is not easy to distinct one from the other. The youth is the group that is highly affected by this phenomenon. The cooperation and communication with young people is needed. Young people watch movies and films and therefore our project brings the films with human rights issues to the young people. Besides the others, the films aim to sensitise the youth and break the stereotypes and prejudices they have against these minorities. They set them up into the broader context and make them understand the situation these minorities have to deal with. The film screenings are accompanied by discussion and the activities for a greater impact of and understanding to these films. It supports and develops the critical thinking of the youth. It also gives the confidence to the teachers to use widely the non-formal methodology in formal education. The main impact is that the youth is educated about the situation of human rights abuses and the importance of the protection of human rights as well as the youth is sensitised, so they are able to work with their prejudice and stereotypes; and able to face some demonstration of discriminatory, racist and xenophobic behavior and attitudes. The project also equipped the teachers with new skills and methodologies in their profession.
Summary of bilateral results