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Description
Within the project, we will implement a pilot educational programme aimed at preventing radicalisation leading to discrimination and hate speech. The programme will promote behaviour free from all forms of radicalisation, discrimination and hate speech among students and teachers of the High School No. 1 in Gorzów Wielkopolski, parents and in the local community. The need for the project stems from a needs diagnosis on the prevention of radicalisation carried out among students and teachers in 2020. As many as 54% of teachers and 39% of students participating in the survey confirmed the occurrence of behaviour involving hate speech, manifestations of discrimination and other radical attitudes at school. As part of the project we will conduct a series of workshops and meetings dedicated to of radicalisation processes leading to discrimination and hate speech, including the legal and social consequences of hate crimes. We will engage the participants in a discussion on social polarisation resulting in intolerance of differences. We will conduct workshops to develop life skills, such as coping with stress and aggression, or building self-control. We will hold a photography competition for young people, motivating them to develop their hobbies. As a result of the project, the participants of educational activities will gain knowledge about social polarisation and radicalisation processes leading to discrimination and hate speech, develop their psychosocial skills and interests. The project is implemented by the Polish Platform for Homeland Security in cooperation with the High School No. 1 in Gorzów Wielkopolski between December 2021 and June 2022.
Summary of project results
The project was aimed at counteracting behavior involving the use of hate speech, manifestations of discrimination and other radical behavior. The "I UNDERSTAND = RESPECT" project was designed as a preventive program based on a logical model that allows for careful consideration, grounding in real needs, as well as giving meaning to all the combined stages of its design in order to achieve the desired change in the form of limiting the radicalization process that can lead an individual to discriminate against others, or even using hate speech. Detailed determination of what problems are directly related to behaviors that constitute acts described in the Penal Code, as well as what "other" discriminatory behaviors and manifestations of hate speech we are dealing with in schools, was a key stage of diagnosis preceding the formulation of the main goal of the constructed program. The collected results made it possible to distinguish the main categories of problem behaviors and their manifestations only observed in schools by teachers and students:
• Insulting a group of people or an individual because of his or her national, ethnic, racial or religious affiliation or because he or she has no religious denomination, or violating the bodily integrity of another person for such reasons (22% of teachers and 9% of students);
• Promoting a fascist or other totalitarian state system or inciting hatred based on national, ethnic, racial or religious differences or lack of religious denomination (indicated by 6% of teachers and 8% of students).
Both the decision to address the program to the above-mentioned recipient groups and to carry out its pilot implementation at the secondary school level were the result of the conclusions drawn from the diagnosis of the problem and the needs for actions to prevent radicalization leading to discrimination and hate speech.
All activities were carried out by experts. The action was aimed at groups at risk of exclusion and discrimination. The actions were carried out within the limits of the law and with respect for human rights. The knowledge was provided in an understandable and friendly way. Participants had the opportunity to actively participate and ask questions, and were listened to attentively.
Actions:
Educational classes "Radicalization - myth or fact?"
Educational classes "Discrimination and hate speech"
"Living library" classes
"Cultural Diversity Week"
"Film Discussion Club - The beauty and challenges of a multicultural world"
Workshops on practicing life skills
Lecture "Understanding a Teenager"
"Me you. We-Them. Faces of Diversity” Multimedia competition.
An evaluation of the project also took place.
The result: equipping participants with knowledge about social polarization and radicalization processes leading to discrimination and hate speech.
Implemented with the support of classes.
The result: strengthening psychosocial skills
Implemented with the support of life skills workshops.
The result: developing a hobby
Implemented to a small extent, with the support of a multimedia competition.
Activities carried out under the project will be continued by the Applicant. Long-term development of the program is planned and it will be implemented on a pilot basis through the implementation of this project. The applicant will apply for further grants for further development of activities in this area, although it should be emphasized that it will develop this direction also without additional funds. Developed design products (training materials for students, teachers, parents; lesson plans; evaluation tools, promotional materials) will be able to successfully be used in as part of other projects undertaken by the Applicant, e.g. in ongoing projects on similar topics, in training, during conferences organized in this thematic area. Thanks to their participation in the project, they acquired knowledge that can be transferred later, after completion of the project.