Youth Social Action Resource Hub

On the International Day Against Hate Speech in 2023, two organisations - UNICEF and the Telekom Foundation for Macedonia - launched a new social media campaign against cyberbullying and online hate speech that was co-created with young people. Under the slogan “Bullying Bye-Bye” the campaign includes over 20 social media videos. Some include messages such as “Words carry weight so choose them carefully” to shed light on the harmful effects of cyberbullying. Others have messages calling on young people themselves not to be bystanders and to offer support if they witness cyberbullying.

Race-based hair discrimination has been illegal in the UK since the 2010 Equalities Act, yet it still happens in schools. Black students may internalize Eurocentric beauty standards and be told that their hair textures and hairstyles are inappropriate or unattractive. The Equality & Human Rights Commission is monitoring the situation. However schools and young people can take action, such as signing up to the UK’s first Black hair code, The Halo Collective’s Halo Code. By adopting this, schools are taking a stand to ensure that no member of their community faces barriers or judgements because of their Afro-textured hair.

A girls-led project (11-14 years) in the US to engage their peers in physical activity using a design thinking process to examine barriers and motivators to getting girls physically active. Part of a two-site pilot, called “Power Up for 30 Middle School Girls Physical Activity Project”. In a pre-survey, only 40% of girls said physical activity was fun, compared to 100% at the end. 80% of girls said, “I get embarrassed doing physical activity in front of others” before the programme. At the end, no participant agreed with this phrase.