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Crazy World

2023-3-IE01-KA154-YOU-0001801872023Youth participation activitiesfinalizedGood practice
Countries: IE|PT · Grant: €57,152
Democracy and inclusive democratic participationPreventing racism and discriminationBridging intercultural, intergenerational and social divide

Objectives

The Crazy World project set out to achieve 8 goals. 1. Young people become active citizens and take action on the rise of racism within their communities 2. Young people can see other parts of Europe and interact with their peers from across Europe 3. There will be a sense of connection to the European Union, in particular to Brussels which is one of the seats of European institutes and where the decisions are made that have an impact on the lives of young people 4. Young people raise awareness among their peers about how they can take a stance against racism 5. Digital content and resources created that can be shared with other groups on how to tackle racism 6. Decision makers take on board the learnings from young people and will highlight the work of the project as one element for a solution to prevent a further rise in racism and hate 7. Young people will begin to unlock their full potential and see what opportunities exist for them in Europe 8. Young people make new connections in Europe and have fun while doing the project. The young people in our communities initiated a project in response to the growing presence of racism and hate, particularly evident in local sports teams and school sports. The project was born from first-hand experiences with the rising hostility in local communities and some cases even within families. The increased tension was especially pronounced in certain housing complexes close to where the young people live. Young people were witnessing an increase in violence towards diverse nationalities living near their homes. This created a huge concern and fear among the young people as hate and racism were spreading quickly not only within their local community but among family and peers. The situation escalated when a violent attack on refugees occurred in the local area, culminating in the destruction of where they were sheltering. This situation deeply alarmed the young people, prompting them to take action. They also observed that much of the hate they encountered particularly among their peers, originated online. Especially on platforms like TikTok where racial 'jokes' often serve as a gateway to more overtly racist or political content. In the aftermath of the refugee attack, the group noticed viral videos of the incident circulating on social media. The young people were disturbed by how easily such violent acts could be shared and trivialized, turning real-life racism into entertainment or humor. This realization sparked their desire to confront not only the hate they see on the streets but also its digital amplification, which often begins with 'seemingly' harmless content but quickly escalates into harmful ideologies. Recognizing the issue's urgency, the young people wanted to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to combat hate, particularly within sports, where much of the division plays out. The young people aimed to equip themselves and their peers with the confidence to stand up against racism and intolerance in their sports teams, local communities, schools, and social circles. The project's aim and objectives were not just about responding to hate, it was about preventing it from taking root. The group understands that merely reacting with aggression will only escalate tensions and harm their efforts to be efforts to be effective allies. Instead, they were eager to embrace activism and active citizenship, learning how to be proactive in fostering inclusivity and solidarity. Their long-term goal is to tackle the issues at their root by intervening early, especially on platforms like Tiktic. The young people aim to create and share content that promotes messages of love and unity over hate, countering the negative narratives they see spreading online. By becoming active digital citizens, they hope to reshape the online conversation and inspire others to challenge racism whenever it appears. The young people from both Portugal and Ireland, with the support of both organizations, were committed to welcoming all young people to ensure an invaluable opportunity to ensure that our practices are as inclusive as possible. By working alongside these young leaders the young people aim to help, support, and reflect on our current approach, identify any gaps in inclusivity, and begin bridging them. The project's main objective not only aimed to empower young people to fight against hate but also to encourage our organization to continually evolve, ensuring that we create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. Through collaboration, the project aims to highlight the importance of developing a truly inclusive project that addresses both visible and hidden barriers young people face.

Project partners (2)