The international Erasmus+ project “Unity Against Hate”, organised by StartUp HUB, took place from 2 to 8 December at the European Studies Centre in Arcuș. The event was attended by 42 young people from 10 different countries – Italy, Romania, Portugal, Turkey, Hungary, Greece, Slovakia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Poland.
The main aim of this project was to help participants to develop intercultural skills, enabling them to deal with the challenges of hate speech with greater empathy and awareness. Special attention was given to minority groups, including gipsy, refugees and migrant youth.
Throughout the project, the participants engaged in many interesting and educational activities. Firstly, they developed a campaign against hate speech and created posters using collage techniques to visually convey their message. They also visited the “GAL Sepsi” Association, where they gained insight into the situation of the gipsy community. The project included several workshops where participants acquired different intercultural skills through interactive activities.
Diletta, a participant from Italy, said: “Through workshops, discussions and team-building activities, we learned to value diversity, challenge stereotypes and promote respect. For me, this experience is more than personal development – I have become part of a collective effort to build a more inclusive and united Europe, where differences do not divide us but bring us closer together.”
Participants took the theoretical and practical knowledge gained during the programme back to their communities. This knowledge will enable them to actively contribute to combating hate speech in their own communities. Applying the methods and strategies learned not only increases cultural sensitivity and tolerance, but also contributes to the development of a more open and empathetic society.
