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Description
The project consists in the preparation and implementation of interactive lessons on civil rights for students of secondary schools. The project is important due to the current anti-Belarusian sentiments in Poland caused by the cooperation between Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin. Moreover, there is a refugee crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border and human rights are violated there. We believe that it is important to discuss these issues with young people, to inform them about the difficult situation on the border and to encourage them to reflect. The direct beneficiaries of the project are young people from Podlasie and Mazovia regions. Young people are an important group who will soon be shaping the political and social landscape of our country. In this project, we also want to create a positive atmosphere around immigrants studying in Polish schools. People from Belarus residing in Podlasie (and not only there) are often stigmatised and they assimilate at any cost, to avoid discrimination. As part of the project, fifty interactive lessons will be carried out for approximately 3000 students. The lessons are implemented in the form of a game set in contemporary Belarus, inspired by a Role Play Game, with audio and video elements. Educators narrate the initial circumstances, and young people participating in the game make decisions about the choices and behaviours of the characters. As part of the project, we will also create a website and make the game available online. Our partner in the project is the Tutaka Foundation, we are also cooperating with the Centre for Development and Environment at the University of Oslo. The project will help develop young people''s civic attitudes and their knowledge of human rights. It will prevent discriminatory behaviour and attitudes towards people from minorities.
Summary of project results
The project had a significant impact on expanding knowledge about the situation in Belarus and sensitizing people to persecution and human rights violations. Belarus is a case that helps in empathetic understanding of the "other", as well as in preventing discriminatory behavior and attitudes also towards other minorities and emigrants encountered.
Based on in-depth research, a lesson plan was created. Then the documentary materials were assembled. In the meantime, coordination work was underway (contact with principals and teachers to establish a class schedule). The experienced educators conducting the lesson tried out the lesson scenario and multimedia game and then conducted 50 online lessons in high schools in Podlasie and Mazovia. A website with the game was created, which was announced at a press conference at the Belarusian Youth Hub.
The main beneficiaries of the project were young people, who will soon be create the political and social landscape of our country.
It was important to create a positive atmosphere around emigrants studying in Polish schools. Belarusians in Podlasie and beyond are often victims of stigmatization, they assimilate at all costs to avoid exclusion. The project definitely had an empowering effect for people from minority groups. It was addressed to both general and vocational schools
technicians. It will reach residents of large and medium-sized agglomerations - Białystok, Hajnówka, as well as rural areas of the Podlasie and Mazovia regions.
The pandemic situation leads to a defensive, closed attitude, atomization of society and distracts attention from the suffering experienced by our closest neighbors. "An hour from here to the East" changed that, we know that students are involved in helping Belarus and take part in support protests organized in Poland - e.g. Białystok, Hajnówka.
The indirect recipients of the project are the recipients of the project promotion campaign and website users.
Summary of bilateral results
At the stage of creating the scenario, the substantive comments of the project partner, Prof., were very helpful. Nina Witoszek from the Center for Development and Environment (SUM) at the University of Oslo. We received materials that expanded the context of our work and were useful in discussions with young people. The professor expressed a high opinion about the effects of our work and supported the application for further use of game lessons in schools.