Why did we do this project?
The aim of the project was to give youth workers both knowledge and practical tools to challenge racism and xenophobia in their everyday work. We wanted to create a space where participants could reflect on their own role, learn from each other, and develop ideas for anti-racist projects and initiatives rooted in their own contexts.
Who was it for?
This project was for youth workers who want to strengthen their ability to work with anti-racism in a meaningful and sustainable way. Whether participants were new to this work or already engaged in anti-racism practically, the project enhanced their capacity to actively support anti-racist struggles and implement anti-racist initiatives.
What did we do together?
In the first training course, we focused on building a shared understanding of what racism is, how it manifests in society, and how we can respond to it. We used a mix of creative methods — like Image Theatre to explore power and personal experiences, and a gallery walk on institutional racism — as well as PeaceWorks’ method for creating and running social projects (DRIV). Toward the end of the course, participants formed project groups and developed concrete ideas, including:
- A project highlighting racist bias in healthcare
- A project aiming to empower teachers to recognize structural racism in their workplace
- And an initiative raising awareness about environmental racism, especially in connection with wildfires and arson
In the second training course, building on the first one, we looked deeper into how racism intersects with other forms of oppression, and how our own positions shape our work. We also drew inspiration from anti-racist movements and worked with exercises from the method Theatre of the Oppressed. The training ended with participants creating anti-racist checklists to bring back to their communities and workplaces. Some examples were:
- A checklist for reporting racist discrimination in academia
- A reflective game for activist groups to examine and explore their own anti-racist practices
- A guide for how to talk about racism within your family or local community
- And a checklist for anti-racist work in the performing arts
What participants said:
“One of the most powerful lessons I learned is that advocacy requires persistence. Real change doesn’t happen overnight, but through continuous effort, solidarity, and strategic action. This project has reinforced my commitment to staying engaged in social justice work, whether by organizing, educating, or supporting movements that fight for a more just and inclusive society”.
“The training showed me how to structure educational activities that promote awareness, self-reflection and action against discrimination. I now understand how to develop sessions that engage participants while addressing complex social issues.”
“The project was my first experience with non-formal education, which gave me a different view of learning and made me reflect on my work with adolescents in Brazil and how I can apply this format of education with them, so that they feel interested in learning”
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