Project Description
The project encompassed an international youth conference bringing together young adults from Italy and Bulgaria, along with the development of a comprehensive digital guide for combating antisemitism, which also featured a tool for reporting antisemitic acts and hate speech.
The initiative aimed to build a network of like-minded young individuals committed to countering the rise of global antisemitism, hate speech, and the spread of fake news in the digital space. Participants shared knowledge, ideas, and experiences, empowering them to become influential advocates within their peer groups. A series of initiatives analysed the scale and mechanisms of antisemitism and hate speech, offering actionable solutions informed by the expertise of partner organisations.
Outputs
- More than 50 participants were involved in the conference, including students from Bulgaria and Italy, representatives of state, regional, and educational institutions in Bulgaria and Italy, from Alef, as well as representatives of local and national media.
- Alef prepared 2 press releases which were distributed via Facebook (8000 followers) and covered by 13 regional and national media. In total, there are 18 publications related to the conference. Italian educational institutions also posted information about the event (1000 followers).
- The digital guide is available on Alef’s website alongside a video dedicated to antisemitism. The video was also screened during the International Youth Conference, giving participants and guests the opportunity to view and discuss it as well.
Findings
- The topic of antisemitism is not sufficiently covered in school education. The conference created knowledge and awareness among representatives of both educational institutions and students who became ambassadors for fighting antisemitism and upholding human values.
- In Bulgaria, there is no dedicated platform for reporting incidents related to antisemitic actions. In response, the Alef introduced the newly created ‘Report Signal’ system, which was implemented as part of the project. No such platform had existed in Bulgaria prior to it.
- As a direct outcome of the conference, the Ministry of the Interior in Burgas and Alef launched a joint initiative that involves training on antisemitism and hate speech. This is a great success as the implementation of such initiatives represents the main goal of Alef.