Youth Worker Exchange in Berlin 2023: A Journey Towards Inclusion and Empowerment

Why is it crucial for youth workers to improve their skills and methods to counteract hate speech, discrimination, and exclusion? In today's diverse and interconnected world, youth workers play a pivotal role in shaping inclusive and respectful environments.

Their ability to recognize and address these issues effectively can make a significant difference in fostering a culture of understanding and acceptance.

This was the driving force behind the Youth Worker Exchange held in Berlin from November 20th to 30th, 2023.

Overall Goals:

• Education about mechanisms of hate speech, discrimination, and exclusion
• Exchange on different forms of these phenomena in different cultural contexts
• Strengthening of intervention skills
• Promoting inclusion and respect for diversity, both in educational institutions and other social contexts
• Strengthening of media literacy
• Exchange of best practices and experiences from respective countries and exploring non-formal learning tools and methods
• Support for self-reflection and long-term, sustainable character development
• Ability to design educational projects and workshops for the prevention of hate speech and discrimination
• Supporting long-term partnerships and future collaborations to develop policy recommendations

Objectives

• Teambuilding and introduction to the project
• Understanding what hate speech, discrimination, and racism are
• Learning about legal frameworks and human rights
• Exploring and experiencing Berlin
• Strengthening media literacy and digital citizenship
• Countering hate speech in practice
• Promoting inclusive education and exploring Berlin further
• Engaging and empowering the community
• Facilitating learning and evaluation sessions

Program Highlights

Teambuilding and Project Introduction The exchange kicked off with teambuilding activities, setting a collaborative tone for the days ahead. Participants quickly bonded, creating a supportive network essential for tackling sensitive topics.

Understanding Hate Speech and Discrimination Workshops defined hate speech, discrimination, and racism, and introduced participants to legal frameworks and human rights principles. These sessions laid a solid foundation for the deeper discussions that followed.

Inclusive Education Practices Through practical activities and theoretical discussions, participants explored methods to foster inclusive education. This segment emphasized creating environments where all students feel valued and respected.

Community Engagement and Empowerment Engaging with local communities, participants visited Berlin, experiencing its rich cultural diversity firsthand. These outings highlighted the importance of community involvement in combating social exclusion.

Exploring Different Methods Participants explored a variety of methods for addressing hate speech and discrimination. This included interactive activities, discussions, and creative approaches like forum theater. Forum theater was particularly effective in helping participants reflect on their own behavior and recognize the impact of their actions. "The forum theater, circle of courage, and international evenings were very inspirational," noted one participant.

Discussing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights A significant part of the program involved discussing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Participants engaged in an impactful exercise where they imagined having to give up some of these rights. This activity highlighted the fundamental importance of each right and sparked profound reflections on freedom, equality, and justice. One participant shared, "I found that my human rights are more precious to me than I imagined and that will help me in the future to protect them."

Legal Frameworks Against Hate Speech and Discrimination Participants from different nations shared their countries' legal frameworks against hate speech and discrimination. This exchange provided a diverse perspective on how various legal systems approach these issues, enriching the participants' understanding and equipping them with strategies to advocate for stronger protections in their own contexts.

Fact - Opinion - Stereotype - Prejudice - Discrimination Participants explored the differences between facts, opinions, stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination. This session was crucial in helping them recognize and address these concepts in their work. "I found very different points of view, got in touch with emotions I hadn't experienced that changed my perspective, and I found new (better) ways to fight hate speech/discrimination," noted one participant.

Realizing Typical Characteristics of Slogans Participants also engaged in activities to understand the typical characteristics of slogans. This involved analyzing common slogans, discussing their implications, and finding new ways and possibilities to react to them effectively.

Cooperation Tasks Cooperation tasks were an integral part of the program, teaching participants the value of teamwork and collective problem-solving. These activities demonstrated how collaborative efforts can lead to more effective and creative solutions in educational settings. One participant remarked, "The creative task went very well because that's when we could express ourselves. Also, the physical tasks were amazing because we worked as a big machine to accomplish the aim."

Creating and Sharing Opinions Through Graffiti One of the unique activities included creating personal graffiti to spread participants' opinions and messages of love. This artistic expression allowed participants to visually communicate their thoughts and values, promoting a message of inclusion and respect.

City-Bound Tasks for Community Engagement Participants also took part in city-bound tasks designed to foster engagement with Berlin residents. These tasks provided opportunities to connect with locals, share ideas, and discuss topics related to hate speech and discrimination, enriching the overall experience.

Learning and Evaluation Reflection sessions allowed participants to consolidate their learning and share feedback. This continuous evaluation ensured the program's relevance and effectiveness.

Participant Feedback and Key Learnings

Key Learning Points:

• "I learned a lot about preventing and handling hate speech and discrimination applied to my domain of activity." – Participant
• "The ability to feel vulnerable with unknown people was a significant personal growth experience for me." – Participant
• "I found new (better) ways to fight hate speech/discrimination and got in touch with emotions I hadn't experienced before." – Participant

New and Helpful Content: Participants appreciated learning about the Circle of Courage, distinguishing between free speech and hate speech, and using forum theater for emotional sharing. These methods proved effective in enhancing their understanding and skills.

Highlights and Memorable Moments

Participants praised the interactive sessions and the deep connections they formed. As one participant noted, "I really liked that we had full engagement and had so many workshops, conversations, and meetings that were very useful and fulfilling." Another shared, "The people and the deep talks we had, spending the evenings together, emotional connection – these are things I'll always remember."

The combination of structured workshops and free exploration time in Berlin created a balanced experience. "I liked that we also had free time to explore Berlin and I really liked that we were very different here, different countries, different ages, different religions, and we still became friends," remarked a participant.

Creating Own Sessions

A highlight of the program was the opportunity for participants to design and facilitate their own sessions. This hands-on experience was invaluable, allowing participants to apply what they had learned and receive feedback from peers and facilitators. They did a fantastic job, and everyone learned a lot from these sessions. Notable sessions included "40 Ways of Awareness," "Tresor Hunt," and "The Carrousel of Emotions," with the latter truly living up to its name.

Conclusion

The Youth Worker Exchange in Berlin 2023 was a resounding success, leaving participants equipped and motivated to foster inclusive, respectful environments. Through shared experiences and diverse perspectives, the program highlighted the importance of unity in diversity, setting a powerful example for future initiatives. As one participant aptly put it, "Go on with those amazing activities so little by little we will change the world – in small circles – for the better!"

We would like to thank all the youth workers involved for their commitment and their great ideas.

You can also be part of it! Check our next dates!