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Description
Greece is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but violations occur regularly by people who are often not aware of their action. The project will address the lack of awareness in the area of discrimination, as experienced daily by individuals who belong to minority groups (such as LGBTQ+, refugees/migrants, Roma etc). The objective is to foster a culture of respect. This lack of respect is reflected in the media, which often use divisive speech and perpetuate stereotypes, instead of challenging them and offering more inclusive representations of society.
The first activity will be a workshop for media professionals. The participants will work towards a solutions based journalism, learn new up-to-date skills and explore ways of making the media more inclusive for groups such as women, refugees and Roma, who are often misrepresented in mainstream media. Norway''s experience on this front will be an added value for the project and the specific workshop, with the partner travelling to Greece to deliver some of the training sessions. The second activity will be addressing the feelings of frustration and helplessness people experience when they become witnesses or victims of discrimination. The participants will advance their communication and storytelling skills to participate in public discourse, develop advocacy campaigns and tell their story effectively. Again, the partner from Norway will transfer its experience on self-advocacy tools for the training. The third activity will focus on the creation of a network between the participants of the previous two.
Media professionals will apply new skills to their work to develop good practices and promote positive change. Young people, either discriminated against or are averse to discrimination, will be empowered to use their voice and a new skillset for active participation and inclusion. Indirectly, media consumers, the general public, minorities and vulnerable members of society will benefit.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the harmful effects of stereotypes, particularly in the context of media and everyday speech, and to empower marginalized individuals, including unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers, and others from multicultural backgrounds, by providing them with the skills to advocate for themselves and tell their own stories. The project also sought to foster understanding and fair representation of minorities in the media and public discourse.
The project consisted of a series of workshops that trained participants in Storytelling & Advocacy, focusing on empowering individuals to tell their own stories and challenge stereotypes. In the first workshop, 15 people from multicultural backgrounds were trained, including unaccompanied minors and asylum seekers. The second workshop, "Change the Narrative!", trained 15 professionals in understanding stereotypes, fair journalism practices, and the design thinking method. Participants also networked and formed connections through a closed social media group, facilitating ongoing support and collaboration. Additionally, a toolkit for Storytelling & Advocacy was created to support participants who wished to form their own groups in schools, camps, or shelters. While not originally planned, the toolkit contributed to the sustainability of the project. The project’s impact was further amplified by its exposure on RISE TV, social media, and other platforms, raising public awareness about the damaging effects of stereotypes.
The project had several important outcomes:
- It trained 30 individuals (15 from multicultural backgrounds and 15 professionals) on Storytelling & Advocacy and the dangers of stereotypes, empowering them to tell their stories and challenge discriminatory narratives.
- It facilitated the formation of lasting relationships among participants and between workshop facilitators, creating a strong support network that extends beyond the workshops.
- The toolkit created further supported the sustainability of the project’s impact, providing resources for those wishing to form their own advocacy groups.
- The project raised awareness about stereotypes in Greek media and everyday speech, reaching a wider audience through media exposure and public discussions.
- It helped some participants create their own independent groups, multiplying the project’s impact and fostering continued engagement with the topic.
Summary of bilateral results
We Need Books identified the issue and had access and a trust bond with minority and vulnerable groups that are underrepresented in the Greek media. On the other hand, the Norwegian partner had the know-how and helped co-create the content of the workshops, based on available material but also to match the Greek reality, as well as transposed the Norwegian best practices and experience on the matter. The participation of the prominent Norwegian journalist, Oystein Windstad, increased the status of the workshops and helped with the outreach for participants. Both facilitators from the donor partner organization brought professionalism and specialized knowledge to the project, while they received a very positive feedback from the participants. Finally, the toolkit created at the end of the project for future use was based considerably on material of the partner. Norsensus Mediaforum keeps working with We Need Books in the aftermath of the project and an in person meeting is already scheduled for October in Oslo, in the context of Active Citizens Days, to discuss future plans of cooperation.