Description
The cyberbullying and racism are strengthening as a consequence of the irresponsible usage of Internet. The schools are not ready to tackle minority issues and (online) exclusion. The objective of the project is to familiarize youth with bullying, exclusion, hate speech and develop the commitments of tackling these. The project also aims to recognize the early signs of addiction of Internet and games. The schools will be ready to take actions against bullying and will be able to help other schools tackling this issue. This will help establishing and maintaining active peer support in order to raise the consciousness and awareness of youth. Trainings, mental health club events and a camp for disadvantaged youth will be held as activities, and mentors will help the voluntary work of youth in their peer groups. Volunteers will hold workshops in schools, as well as campaign against (cyber) bullying will be organized in 4 schools. Two websites will be developed in order to publicize the project programs and strengthen the work of the Association and the activities of its partner. 30 college students will be trained for realizing the peer groups, 10 educators and about 30 pupils.
Summary of project results
The cyberbullying and racism are strengthening as a consequence of the irresponsible usage of Internet. The schools are not ready to tackle minority issues and (online) exclusion. The objective of the project was to familiarize youth with bullying, exclusion, hate speech and develop the commitments of tackling these, and the project promoter aimed to recognize the early signs of addiction of Internet and games. Voluntary students participated in basic and advanced trainings so they became able to hold workshops in schools. 11 students participated in the training, and 8 of them undertake to held workshops. Already on the opening event 2 schools indicated that they were aware of such problems so they applied. During the project, volunteers held workshops 80 times. They were really successful as the pupils were more open and cooperative with the young volunteers than their teachers. They built such trust that some of the children went to the organization and asked for help. The collaboration with schools were good, they expect to continue the work. The association also organized a talent management camp where they could discuss prejudices and hate speech with a psychologist, participate in a film club (themes were personal responsibility, community and ability to improve talent), and participants learned about the youth for human rights initiative. Students became really committed to the topic that they assigned to a professional congress of Children and Youth Psychiatrists and introduced their work done in the project. “Accept the difference” titled club was about virtual challenges in life; parental and pedagogic roles; career guidance and autism thus participating student became aware of aspects of differences, and they could learn more about their challenges.
Summary of bilateral results