Our research shows that young people from Dąbrowa Górnicza (Silesia Voivodeship) constitute a social group that is the most often discriminated, or a targeted by hate speech. What is more, despite knowing how to point out certain types of prejudice, they don’t know how to counteract them. In some cases, they still consider hate speech as part of the free speech.

We want to conduct a training for 20 students from post-primary schools in Dąbrowa Górnicza. They will provide competences to counteract hate speech and promote attitudes of respect, tolerance, and countering stereotypes. After the training, graduates will act as the Ambassadors for Dialogue, or youth mediators, whose task will be to support schools in building a culture of dialogue and solving conflicts based on worldview differences.

The Ambassadors of Dialogue will co-organize debates between schools, showing that there is room for mutual respect despite differing opinions and worldviews. Additionally, they will organize Breakfasts Above Divisions, or a series of meetings that will host several guests from different groups, political parties, or organizations. Participants will have an opportunity to discuss issues they find important for their communities.

Finally, the Ambassadors of Dialogue will organize a conference that will summarize the project and host a debate entitled “Where Does the Freedom of Speech End and Hate Speech Begin?” with Representatives from the local government, schools, and urban organizations from Dąbrowa Górnicza.

The project partner will be the Municipality of Dąbrowa Górnicza. It will provide the event space for the conference and support us with personnel experienced in working with local governments and NGOs.