Combatting hate speech and behaviour through HITs (Hate Interrupter Teams)
Over the last few years, Rinova has participated in varoius REC
(Rights, Equality and Citizenship) partnerships. REC is an EU
funded programme promoting non-discrimination and combating racism,
xenophobia, homophobia and other forms of intolerance. Working
closely with our long-standing partner, Hope for Children in
Cyprus, we helped to develop the HIT project, which is funded by
REC.
HIT, which stands for 'Hate Interrupter Teams', was launched in
late 2018 and is well-connected with our Social Action
aims, particularly those concerning youth empowerment and reaching
communities. The objective of HIT is to contribute to a better
understanding of the incidence of hate speech against migrants and
other groups, among children and young people, while raising
awareness about this issue and promoting its prevention. Through
its 'creative campaigning' approach, HIT provides young people aged
14-19 with knowledge, peer support and tools to address hate speech
and behaviour towards migrants and minorities.
In addition to the coordinator Hope for Children CRC Policy
Centre (Cyprus) and Rinova, the HIT partnership includes Collage Arts (UK), Frederick University
(Cyprus), The Smile
of The Child (Greece), CEPS
Projectes Sociales (Spain), Gender Alternatives
Foundation (Bulgaria), Mulab
(Italy) and the trans-European network Metropolisnet
(Germany).
The activity programme is now well underway. All partners have
jointly developed a training curriculum and run a 'train the
trainer' event in Rome back in March 2019. This was followed by
local workshops with young people and relevant stakeholders which
enabled the partnership to develop a common Youth Creative
Campaign. The HIT app has been particularly helpful for producing
different products with the same branding. The app can be download
for free on Android
or
iOS.
The training in London has been implemented by our long-time
partner Collage Arts at Collage
Artspace 4 and online. The young people of the London HIT team
have developed amazing content as well as their own website
and Instagram
page which have been inspiring for all the other
participants.
Pictured right: Members of the HIT team formed by Collage
Arts working together on-site.
Because of the Covid-19 situation, many of the planned
activities have been disrupted and the project extended.
However, the campaign will continue throughout 2020, including
plans to bring together all of the HIT teams of young people in
each country. More info to come soon.
If you would like to find out more about HIT, check the project website or contact Michele
De Vito at m.devito@rinova.co.uk
Follow our Creative Youth Campaign and join the HIT journey!
#HITproject #StopTheHate #NoHateSpeech
The HIT project (REC-RRAC-RACI-AG-2017-807861) has been
co-financed with the support of the European Commission's DG
Justice and Consumers. Its contents and materials are the sole
responsibility of its authors. The Commission cannot be held
responsible for any use which may be made of the information
contained therein.
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