TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Nelly Paytyan
The Training Course pursues the following main objectives:
Creating a network of activists, youth workers, educators and youth organizations who combat online hate speech and building their capacity in campaigning against online hate speech with both a national and European dimension;
Exploring the notion of hate speech and examining its main roots, inspiring youth workers to find out innovative mechanisms and solutions in fighting hate speech, targeting different layers of society;
Equipping youth workers and educators with skills, knowledge and tools to provide quality training for young people and support them to recognize and transform hateful speech online;
Improving internet and media competences of youth workers and educators so they are better equipped to counter hate speech online and are to promote responsible internet presence and conscious content generation among young people they work with.
The Training Course aims to equip 30 youth workers and educators from the EU and Neighboring Partner countries with necessary skills, knowledge and tools to support young people’s fight against online oppressive narratives, propaganda and hate speech.
The training methods used in this activity likely included a combination of the following:
Workshops: Interactive sessions where participants were engaged in discussions, case studies, and practical exercises. These workshops would have focused on developing skills in identifying and addressing hate speech, as well as designing effective campaigns.
Role-playing: A method used to simulate real-life scenarios involving hate speech and human rights violations, helping participants practice responses and build confidence in addressing these issues in various contexts.
Group Discussions and Brainstorming: Facilitated discussions and brainstorming sessions allowed participants to share experiences, exchange ideas, and explore strategies for confronting hate speech both online and offline.
Collaborative Projects: Participants likely worked in small groups to create local campaigns, educational activities, or materials that would be used to combat hate speech in their communities. This encouraged teamwork, creativity, and the application of knowledge gained during the training.
Case Studies: Reviewing real-life examples of hate speech incidents and human rights issues helped participants understand the complexities of these problems and the best approaches to addressing them.
Interactive Learning Tools: Use of online platforms, multimedia presentations, and other interactive tools likely helped to enhance engagement and make learning more dynamic.
Peer-to-Peer Learning: Encouraging participants to share their experiences and insights from their home countries, creating a mutual learning environment where everyone could learn from each other’s successes and challenges.
Workshops on Campaigning: Teaching participants how to design and implement effective anti-hate speech campaigns, with a focus on strategy, messaging, and target audience engagement.
Enhanced Capacity to Confront Hate Speech: Participants improved their skills in identifying, addressing, and effectively confronting hate speech and harmful narratives. Youth workers gained the tools necessary to respond in real-time and educate others.
Increased Competencies in Anti-Hate Speech and Human Rights Education: By engaging with topics like anti-hate speech activism and human rights education (HRE), youth workers and educators deepened their understanding of how to incorporate these issues into their daily work and activism.
Mainstreaming Anti-Hate Speech and HRE Methods: The project encouraged the integration of anti-hate speech and HRE methods into youth work practices across partner countries, ensuring that these principles became embedded in ongoing activities and future projects.
Sustainable Quality Improvement: The activity led to long-term improvements in the quality of the participating organizations' work, focusing on combating hate speech, cyberbullying, and human rights violations. The initiative created lasting, meaningful change in these areas.
Development of Local Campaigns and Educational Materials: Through the exploration of various good practices, participants developed local campaigns and educational materials. These resources supported youth workers and educators in their efforts to combat hate speech and educate their communities effectively.
As a Senior Trainer, my key responsibilities included:
✔ Program Design – Developing the structure, methodology, and content of the training, ensuring alignment with the project’s goals together with the other senior trainer and the junior trainer.
✔ Facilitation & Delivery – Leading interactive sessions, implementing methodologies such as Theatre of the Oppressed, World Café, and team discussions, and engaging participants in meaningful discussions and activities.
✔ Evaluation & Reporting – Conducting midterm and final evaluations to assess learning outcomes, collecting feedback, and compiling reports on the impact of the training.
✔ Team Coordination – Collaborating with fellow trainers to ensure a smooth learning process and maintaining an inclusive and dynamic training environment.