ECAPT – Preparation Activities | Poland

The Polish team contributed to ECAPT preparation through youth-led awareness posters and a series of interviews with young people, teachers, and school principals. Their work explored how discrimination is experienced today, where it happens most often, what fuels it, and what schools and young people can do to prevent it

1) Youth-Led Awareness Posters

Polish participants designed posters that communicate strong messages against discrimination, focusing on:

  • equal rights and respect

  • the importance of dialogue

  • the reality of online hate

  • empowering young people to speak up and support each other

Poster gallery:

  • Poster 1: "Discrimination Through Our Eyes" (quotes & equality messages)

  • Poster 2: "STOP Discrimination Among Youth" (simple talk can make a difference)

  • Poster 3: "Discrimination Through Our Eyes" (online hate & youth-driven solutions)

  • Poster 4: "Stop Online Hate" (internet as a major space for discrimination)

2) Interviews on Discrimination

As part of the preparation work, participants carried out interviews with:

  • young people (peers)

  • teachers

  • school principals

Aim: to understand how discrimination is perceived across generations, how common it is, where it appears most, and how it can be addressed

3) Key Findings from the Interviews

Discrimination is frequent—and often online

Both youth and educators agreed discrimination is a common issue, but it happens more often on the internet than face-to-face. Social media anonymity reduces responsibility and increases hate speech, harassment, and bullying

Discrimination is not always intentional

Young people noted that discrimination can happen through "jokes" or comments that the speaker may not realise are harmful. This highlights the need for awareness, reflection, and empathy education

Appearance plays a major role

Interviewees identified appearance (clothing, body type, style, first impressions) as a strong trigger for judgement, exclusion, and ridicule—especially among teenagers

Technology changed the scale of harm

Teachers explained that in the past, hurtful behaviour required face-to-face interaction. Today, technology makes it easier to discriminate without immediate consequences, making online hate more widespread and visible

DOWNLOAD report.pdf

4) What Schools and Teachers Can Do

Teachers described practical strategies used in schools, such as:

  • talking with students involved

  • meetings with parents

  • explaining consequences

  • involving school psychologists/counsellors

  • prioritising dialogue as the most effective tool

They also stressed that it's important to understand the root cause of the behaviour—not only punish it—so prevention becomes possible

5) Prevention Ideas Highlighted by Youth and Educators

The interviews strongly pointed to:

  • education + conversation + empathy

  • emotional education (recognising feelings, respecting differences)

  • better learning on online safety and responsible internet behaviour

  • encouraging young people to react when they witness discrimination

These actions can support safer, more inclusive environments both online and offline.

6) Polish Team Contribution to ECAPT

Through creative posters and real-life interviews, the Polish team highlighted a key message for ECAPT:

Discrimination is a real and growing challenge—especially online—so prevention must start with empathy, dialogue, and responsible digital behaviour.