05.12.2024

Through interactive methods, the youth of Daugavpils have developed competencies in preventing hate speech

On December 4, 2024, the Daugavpils University Association for Lifelong Learning, Culture, and Science Communication “Intellect Park” organized a workshop – a structured discussion for the youth within the framework of the U.S. Embassy in Latvia’s Small Grants Program project “Raising Awareness of Hate Speech and Its Prevention in Latvian Civil Society”. The event was attended by 12th-grade students from Daugavpils State City Secondary School. The session was led by project educator Oļģerts Rihlickis, with assistance from the project’s IT specialist, Gustavs Koržeņevskis.

At the beginning of the session, the youth discussed manifestations of hate speech in modern society. Using the “speed talks” method and visual materials, the project educator encouraged participants to share their experiences with identified hate speech incidents in schools, social networks, public places, and elsewhere. The youth, using augmented reality (AR) glasses, observed situations in a virtual space. While describing these situations, they reflected in groups on the signs of hate speech and its emotional impact on the target object. During the phase of the structured discussion, they discussed the factors that can contribute to the creation of hate speech and proposed effective prevention measures.

In the second part of the workshop, the participants made posters that demonstrated various aspects of hate speech. The knowledge gained was reinforced by watching a video that provided information on how to recognize hate speech and where to turn for help if one is a victim of hate speech.

At the end of the training, the participants took part in a survey, providing feedback on the topics covered in the workshop and the methods used. The survey results indicate that, in the youth’s opinion, the use of augmented reality (AR) glasses offers a more effective way to learn new content, and the visual materials create associations that help with memorization and interpretation. The youth acknowledged that, when learning complex topics, it is important to use engaging methods and interactive tools, as they help to better understand the content. They also confirmed that the knowledge gained during the workshop will be useful to proactively participate in hate speech prevention.

The project “Building Understanding of Hate Speech and Its Prevention in the Latvian Civic Community,” No. SLG75024GR0075, is being implemented with the financial support of the U.S. Embassy in Latvia.