Youth Organization Status: M joined the national campaign No hate speech movement through it’s project Be a man clubs from Zagreb, Gospić and Valpovo against hate speech on the Internet. This project started with very interesting education for young men, which was held from 13th to 16th of February. During this education, 40 young men from 4 schools learned how to lead workshops and promote non-violence, especially on the Internet.
WHAT WAS THIS EDUCATION LIKE?
Imagine 40 young men from 5 Be a Man Clubs, who get up at 7 a.m. during weekend, take showers and go to breakfast where they instantly win the hearts of restaurant cooks by cleaning the plates after their meals. Right after breakfast, at 8 a.m., they start with workshops, where they learn how to, when they go back to their schools, stand in front of their peers and talk about the importance of prevention of hate speech on the Internet and promotion of human rights and diversities. Then imagine these same 40 young men dancing on Zrinjevac on 14th of February, supporting One Billion Rising for Justice, event with a goal of ending violence against women. With their dance and dedication they won not only the hearts of all citizens, but also received a special commendations from the President Ivo Josipović, Ombudswoman for Gender Equality Višnja Ljubičić , Elemental, Danijela Trbović, Iva Šulentić etc.
BE A MAN CLUBS
You must be wondering who these phenomenal young men are? These young men are part of Be a man clubs from Zagreb, Gospić, Valpovo and Croatian Union of Roma. Be a man clubs are positive peer groups, which gather young men who finished primary education on healthy lifestyles, non-violent behavior and gender equality. In these clubs, young men are given support not only from their peers but also from professional workers who with young people, primarily from the Youth Organization Status:M.
STATUS:M
Status:M is a non-governmental, non-profit youth organization, unique not only because it’s the only organization in Croatia which focuses on working with young men, but also because of it’s specific approach to young men.
Why is it important to work with young men ?
Because statistic data, both for Croatia and global level, indicate very worrying trend. Did you know that young men are the ones who are most common perpetrators, but also victims of violence? Suicide rates in these population are also very high, same as rates on traffic accidents, school dropout, and ending up in the correctional institutions.
What are we doing about it?
We work with young men with a goal to build positive forms of masculinity through promotion of healthy lifestyles, non-violent behavior and gender equality.
How are we doing it?
Primarily through youth education, but also through many other activities such as trainings for professional youth workers, implementation of public actions campaigns, etc.
Education which was held for these 40 young men 13th to 16th of February is just the beginning of the project Be a man clubs from Zagreb, Gospić and Valpovo against hate speech on the Internet, which Status:M carries out as a part of the campaign No hate speech movement.
NO HATE SPEECH CAMPAIGN
Campaign No hate speech movement is conducted at the national level and lasts until December of 2014. It was launched by the European Council in order to address the negative effects of hate speech on the Internet.
HOW CAN YOU JOIN IN?
What can you do to support these great young men? ☺
By liking the official Facebook page of the campaign No hate speech movement and then liking short video messages against hate speech recorded by these young men.
Also view the photo gallery on our Facebook page.