How should you react when a classmate becomes the target of cyberbullying? Where can you turn for help when the abuse moves online? Two hundred students from eight schools in Kraków will be seeking answers to these questions. The “Youth Safety Networks” project is launching. The activities will run through December 15.
The Półtorej Minuty Foundation is carrying out the project “Youth Safety Networks in Kraków”—a series of free workshops for students from Generation Alpha focused on combating discrimination, hate speech, and online violence.
Today’s 11- to 18-year-olds are the first generation to grow up with the internet from birth. Conversations, friendships, and conflicts unfold simultaneously at school and on social media, and the line between them is practically nonexistent. The project addresses this reality: instead of lectures, it offers practical exercises, work on real-life situations from school and online life, and moderated discussions.
Three modules to choose from
Each school selects one of the three modules that best suits the needs of its community. First: “Online Violence—How to Protect Yourself?” teaches students how to recognize cyberbullying, protect their privacy, and safely report abuse. Second: “Tolerance and Acceptance—Combating Discrimination in Practice” addresses stereotypes, prejudices, and the role of bystanders. The third, “Inclusive Language as a Response to Hate Speech and Peer Violence,” demonstrates how to respond to hate speech using language based on respect and assertiveness, including through the use of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) techniques.
Eight workshops are scheduled in elementary and secondary schools, each lasting two class periods. Before and after the sessions, the facilitators consult with teachers and homeroom teachers. Participation is free, and the workshop venues are accessible to people with disabilities.
Collaboration with Local Government
– This initiative addresses the need to create an environment in schools where young people know they don’t have to face difficulties alone and are able to respond when someone around them needs help. The project develops skills related to communication, empathy, recognizing emotions and needs, and coping with stress and crisis situations. Our activities are aimed not only at young people but also at teachers and parents, because effective support requires the involvement of the entire community in which a young person lives. “Our activities are meant to complement the school’s support system and provide teachers and parents with the knowledge and tools to better recognize difficulties, respond appropriately, and refer young people to the right specialized support,” comments Krystyna Piątkowska, a psychologist at the Półtorej Minuty Foundation.
As the project organizers add, it’s not enough to simply tell young people that hate speech is wrong.
– We also need to talk about what to do when it happens in a class group, affects someone close to us, or when we ourselves aren’t sure if a given situation has already crossed the line. In the “Youth Safety Networks in Kraków” project, it’s important to us that students not only gain knowledge but also have the opportunity to examine specific situations and consider how they themselves would react to them. This gives them the opportunity to talk about the problems they face every day and work together to find ways to deal with them. Because in such situations, what matters isn’t just whether we know something is wrong, but also whether we’re able to react when it’s happening right in front of us,” they emphasize.
Source: City Counsil