Youth on stage against online bullying
This past weekend, youth from across the country gathered to participate in an intensive theater and video workshop camp dedicated to an important and timely topic: stopping online harassment against girls and women. The event, organized by the Open Space Foundation, was part of the G-LENS project, funded by the European Commission’s CERV program.
Why is it so important?
Online bullying has been a problem we’ve been living with for years, but it’s escalating at a rapid pace. According to studies, over half of perpetrators do it out of boredom or for fun, and the worrying age limit has even dropped to 7 years old. Women are a particularly vulnerable group, and in many cases the harassment ends in death.
“We at Open Space Foundation believe this is one of the most meaningful projects we have ever partnered with,” the organization said. The goal of the camp was to give young people a voice and show that behind every profile is a real person with feelings.
The participants worked under the mentorship of professionals Monika Ugrenova and Alexandra Ilieva. They used theater and video techniques to transform their ideas, anger and compassion into a powerful message. The result of their joint work is impressive. A video recording of the performance is available for sharing:
The youth focused on how to present information more responsibly and how to confront violence in the digital space. They showed that creativity and energy can be a powerful tool for change.
The G-LENS project was implemented with the valuable partnership of the British Council Poland, MIGS Cyprus, Anais Romania and IPA Poland. Thanks to their support, young people were able to create content that will contribute to a safer online environment.
We look forward to seeing more of their results that will make us think and act. Follow our website and social networks for news on the topic.
