Work Package 2 – The Base
HATE-LESS Methodological Guidelines for Participatory Actions
Hate speech, racism, and disinformation continue to affect young people across digital and offline spaces. At the same time, young people have the capacity to become informed, critical, and active contributors to more inclusive societies.
The HATE-LESS Methodological Guidelines for Participatory Actions provide practical tools for youth workers and educators to address these challenges through media literacy and participatory approaches.
The guidelines:
- Promote youth-led storytelling and counter-narratives
- Strengthen social and civic competences
- Use Participatory Action Research (PAR) to position young people as active co-creators
Structured in progressive chapters, the resource moves from defining participatory methods to supporting the creation of participatory video, grounded in ethical and inclusive practice.
The HATE-LESS toolkit for youth workers and trainers
The HATE-LESS Toolkit for Youth Workers and Trainers provides practical learning activities and methodologies to help young people understand and respond to hate speech, racism, and disinformation in digital environments.
Developed within the HATE-LESS Erasmus+ project, the toolkit supports youth workers, trainers, and educators in delivering participatory and media literacy-based training that strengthens critical thinking, empathy, and civic engagement among young people.
The toolkit includes:
- Six thematic modules combining theory and practical activities
- Participatory Action Research (PAR) approaches for youth engagement
- Interactive exercises on media literacy, digital manipulation, and online hate
- Technical guidance for participatory storytelling and video creation
Through creative storytelling and collaborative learning methods, youth participants are encouraged to reflect on harmful narratives, develop their own voices, and create counter-narratives that promote inclusion and diversity.
Download HATE-LESS Toolkit in: German – Greek – English – Estonian – French – Spanish – Ukrainian
Work Package 3 – Pilot Phase
HATE-LESS Repository of Participatory Impact Monitoring Tools
Measuring the impact of educational initiatives is essential for understanding how learning processes influence attitudes, knowledge, and behaviour.
The HATE-LESS Repository of Participatory Impact Monitoring Tools provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating the outcomes of the project’s training and participatory learning activities.
The repository:
- Presents 15 monitoring tools combining qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods
- Supports youth workers in assessing changes in media literacy, critical thinking, and civic engagement
- Encourages participatory evaluation through storytelling, reflection exercises, and interviews
- Enables partners to track learning outcomes and the impact of participatory media activities
By involving youth workers and young people as active contributors to the evaluation process, the monitoring framework strengthens transparency, collaborative learning, and evidence-based improvements in youth education initiatives.
HATE-LESS Train the Trainer Handouts – Spain Edition
The following 12 reusable and downloadable handouts form a complete practical resource package for the four-session HATE-LESS Train-the-Trainer Spain series. Each session includes a Learning Path for facilitators, an energiser that introduces the central theme through reflection and participation, and a main activity handout that supports the creation of a short participatory video.
Across the four sessions – Storytelling Through Space, Voices from the Margins, Emotional Narratives & Media Influence, and Creating Counter-Narrative Videos – participants progress from using their surroundings as part of a story and practising ethical interview-based storytelling to recognising emotional influence online and creating constructive counter-narratives. The materials can be delivered together as a progressive four-session training programme or adapted individually by youth workers, trainers and educators according to the needs, experience and available time of their groups.
Train the Trainer Spain Edition Workshop 1 of 4: Storytelling Through Space Handouts
Storytelling Through Space: Using Your Location as Your Ideal Participatory Video Background introduces participants to the idea that a setting is not simply a backdrop but an active part of visual storytelling.
The three downloadable handouts are designed to help youth workers and trainers reproduce the complete session: the Learning Path provides its structure and timing, the energiser develops awareness of framing and surroundings, and the main activity guides participants in creating a short, value-based participatory video. Together, they support accessible production, creative confidence and safe participation while showing how everyday physical or digital spaces can help young people express their perspectives.
HATE-LESS Training 1/4 Handout 1 – Storytelling Through Space: Learning Path
Storytelling Through Space: Using Your Location as Your Ideal Participatory Video Background introduces participants to the idea that a setting is not simply a backdrop but an active part of visual storytelling. Participants observe how light, objects, framing and atmosphere communicate meaning before using their surroundings to create a short, value-based video. The session prioritises accessible production, creative confidence and safe participation, showing trainers how everyday physical or digital spaces can help young people express their perspectives and contribute positively to online dialogue.
HATE-LESS Training 1/4 Handout 2 – Energizer: Space-to-Story Video Sprint: Finding the Frame Together
This energiser invites participants to pause and observe the space around them before deciding what story they want to tell. Through the stages Arrive, Notice, Imagine, Adjust, Connect and Relate, they consider how elements such as lighting, objects, screens, sound and distance may influence a viewer’s experience, before completing the prompt: “My space could help tell a story about…”.
HATE-LESS Training 1/4 Handout 3 – Main Activity: From Voice to Light: Space-to-Story Video Sprint
This creation handout guides participants from an initial value-based idea to a completed short video.
The 4L Video Spark – Location, Love, Lens and Light – helps them connect a chosen space with something they value, interpret its wider meaning and shape a positive message. It also provides practical advice on framing, lighting, camera stability, clear delivery, privacy, consent and responsible publication.
Watch an example of a participatory video created during this HATE-LESS Train-the-Trainer workshop in Spain:
Train the Trainer Spain Edition Workshop 2 of 4: Voices from the Margins
Voices from the Margins: Interview-based Storytelling explores how careful listening and ethical questioning can create space for perspectives that are often overlooked or represented by others.
The three downloadable handouts equip trainers to deliver the full session: the Learning Path maps its sequence and timing, the energiser helps participants practise thoughtful listening and question-building, and the main activity introduces the CARE framework for producing a short interview-inspired video. Together, they place dignity, consent and the speaker’s freedom to choose what they share at the centre of participatory storytelling.
HATE-LESS Training 2/4 Handout 1 – Voices from the Margins: Learning Path
The Learning Path provides trainers with the complete progression from listening awareness to interview-based video creation. It connects the opening Hummingbird Question and question-building exercise with the Listen, Protect, Respect quiz, the CARE storytelling framework, video recording, trainer reflection and evaluation, making it possible to understand and reproduce the session as one coherent learning journey.
HATE-LESS Training 2/4 Handout 2 – Voices from the Margins: Energizer – From Silence to Listening
This energiser helps participants distinguish between questions that close down conversation and those that invite collaboration and choice. It introduces three principles—Listen First, Protect Choice and Ask with Care—and leads participants through a short reflective process for creating one thoughtful question that could help another person feel heard, respected and able to speak in their own words.
HATE-LESS Training 2/4 Handout 3 – Voices from the Margins: Main Activity – One Question, One Voice
This handout supports the creation of a short, interview-inspired participatory video beginning with one meaningful question. Participants use CARE – Curiosity, Attention, Reflection and Empower – to consider what they want to understand, what stands out while listening, what the response helps them recognise and what positive message they can share. Recording and publication guidance reinforces clear communication, consent, privacy and respectful representation.
Watch an example of a participatory video created during this HATE-LESS Train-the-Trainer workshop in Spain:
Train the Trainer Spain Edition Workshop 3 of 4: Emotional Narratives & Media Influence
Emotional Narratives & Media Influence: How Emotions and Algorithms Shape Media examines how online content can trigger strong feelings and how users’ reactions may influence what becomes more visible
The three downloadable handouts are intended to support trainers in recreating this learning journey: the Learning Journey outlines the complete workshop process, the Hummingbird Pause energiser introduces a simple method for slowing down emotional reactions, and the FEEL Video Practice guides participants in transforming emotional awareness into a constructive video message. Together, the resources help young people recognise emotional influence and make more thoughtful choices about what they respond to and amplify online.
HATE-LESS Training 3/4 Handout 1 – Emotional Narratives & Media Influence: Learning Journey
The Learning Journey shows how the session moves from recognising emotional influence to practising responsible digital action. It brings together introductory reflection, accessible information about emotional content and engagement, the Hummingbird Pause, an emotion-based discussion, the FEEL Video Spark, video production and trainer evaluation. The document helps facilitators see how each stage builds the awareness, skills and confidence required for the next.
HATE-LESS Training 3/4 Handout 2 – Energizer: From Silence to Listening
This energiser helps participants distinguish between questions that close down conversation and those that invite collaboration and choice. It introduces three principles – Listen First, Protect Choice and Ask with Care – and leads participants through a short reflective process for creating one thoughtful question that could help another person feel heard, respected and able to speak in their own words.
HATE-LESS Training 3/4 Handout 3 – Main Activity: One Question, One Voice
This handout supports the creation of a short, interview-inspired participatory video beginning with one meaningful question.
Participants use CARE – Curiosity, Attention, Reflection and Empower – to consider what they want to understand, what stands out while listening, what the response helps them recognise and what positive message they can share. Recording and publication guidance reinforces clear communication, consent, privacy and respectful representation.
Watch an example of a participatory video created during this HATE-LESS Train-the-Trainer workshop in Spain:
Train the Trainer Spain Edition Workshop 4 of 4: Creating Counter-Narrative Videos
Creating Counter-Narrative Videos: From Reaction to Responsible Digital Action concludes the series by helping participants respond to harmful online narratives without repeating or increasing their reach.
The three downloadable handouts provide trainers with the materials needed to deliver the session: the Learning Path sets out its stages and timings, the Hummingbird Mission energiser introduces the idea of reducing rather than feeding online harm, and the LOVE Counter-Narrative activity supports participants in scripting and recording a constructive alternative message. Together, they promote responses grounded in dignity, truth, empathy, inclusion and responsible digital participation.
Energiser – The Hummingbird Mission
This Learning Journey provides trainers with the complete structure, sequence and timing for the final session, Creating Counter-Narrative Videos: From Reaction to Responsible Digital Action. It maps the progression from the Hummingbird Mission and reflection on the impact of counter-narratives to the LOVE framework, script development, video recording and trainer evaluation. The document is intended as a practical delivery guide, helping facilitators reproduce the full session while connecting it to the three preceding workshops in the Train-the-Trainer series.
HATE-LESS Training 4/4 Handout 2 – Energiser – The Hummingbird Mission
This energiser introduces counter-narratives through the image of a hummingbird carrying water towards a forest fire, encouraging participants to consider how small, constructive actions can help reduce online hate and fear. Through reflection, discussion and a guided visualisation, participants examine what harmful messages spread, explore how counter-narratives can make dignity, inclusion and belonging more visible, and practise the three-step approach Notice, Choose Water, Create before moving into video production.
HATE-LESS Training 4/4 Handout 3
This main activity handout supports participants in transforming a harmful online pattern or stereotype into a short, positive counter-narrative video.
The LOVE framework – Look, Open, Voice, and Empower – guides them to identify the harmful pattern without repeating hateful language, recognise its emotional impact, offer a truthful and inclusive alternative, and propose a responsible action.
It also includes an adaptable script prompt, recording guidance, privacy and consent requirements, and instructions for safely sharing the completed video.
Watch an example of a participatory video created during this HATE-LESS Train-the-Trainer workshop in Spain:
Work Package 4 – Advocacy Campaign And Dissemination
HATE-LESS Project Flyer
The HATE-LESS Flyer provides a concise overview of the project’s goals, activities, and expected outcomes.
It introduces the project’s mission to combat hate speech and disinformation by strengthening media literacy, critical thinking, and civic engagement among young people and youth workers.
The flyer outlines:
- The main objectives of the HATE-LESS project
- Key activities including training programmes, participatory media production, and advocacy campaigns
- The expected outcomes for youth workers, young participants, and local communities
- The project’s contribution to promoting diversity, tolerance, and intercultural dialogue across Europe
Through collaborative learning, digital storytelling, and youth-led initiatives, HATE-LESS supports the development of a more informed, inclusive, and resilient digital society.
Press Release 1 – Project Launch Announcement
The first press release, published in October 2025, introduced the official launch of the HATE-LESS project and presented its objectives, partnership, and planned activities. The announcement highlighted the project’s mission to address hate speech and disinformation by strengthening media literacy and participatory approaches in youth work. It also introduced the upcoming development of the Methodological Guidelines and Practical Toolkit, which will support educators and youth organizations in integrating media literacy and anti-hate-speech education into their activities.
In addition, the press release reported on the successful testing of the toolkit during the international Training of Trainers in Tallinn, emphasizing the importance of fostering critical thinking, empathy, and responsible digital participation among young people.
Press Release 2 – HATE-LESS Enters Second Phase
The second press release, published in May 2026, announced the HATE-LESS project’s transition from research and resource development to large-scale implementation. Following the successful development and testing of the Methodological Guidelines and HATE-LESS Toolkit, the project entered a new phase focused on participatory training, youth-led media production, and advocacy.
The announcement highlighted the launch of pilot training activities across Germany, Estonia, France, Spain, and Cyprus, supporting youth workers and young people in applying media literacy approaches to deconstruct hate speech and disinformation. It also introduced the next major project activities: the creation of youth-led Participatory Videos reflecting perspectives on digital well-being, migration, and inclusion; the use of participatory impact monitoring tools; and the development of a European advocacy campaign and Youth Manifesto. Through these activities, HATE-LESS moves from developing educational resources to empowering young people to actively contribute to more inclusive, responsible, and informed digital communities.
