Change Compounds: Training the Trainers to Tackle Hate Speech in Cyprus
The “cascade model” is a way to ensure that the seeds of media literacy planted today grow into a forest of critical thinkers tomorrow.
On 20 February 2026, the Cyprus edition of the HATE-LESS Youth Worker Cascade Training officially kicked off. Hosted by the WAVES Foundation for Global Education, this 5-hour intensive workshop brought together 15 dedicated youth workers and educators from across the island to confront one of Europe’s most toxic challenges: the weaponization of disinformation and hate speech.
Why Youth Workers?
In the digital age, youth workers are often the first responders. They are the ones young people turn to when they encounter confusing narratives, racist tropes, or targeted disinformation online. Our goal with HATE-LESS is to ensure these professionals don’t just have an answer, but a methodology.
By providing tools to deconstruct these harmful narratives, we empower educators to transform a moment of conflict into a pedagogical opportunity.
Inside the Workshop
The energy in the room was a testament to the local appetite for these tools. During the session, our participants:
- Dived into the Toolkit: Engaged with the methodological guidelines developed by the HATE-LESS partnership.
- Lights, Camera, Action: Familiarized themselves with participatory video, a powerful pedagogical approach that allows young people to take the mic (and the lens).
- Hands-on Testing: Worked through practical activities designed to strip away the layers of disinformation and racist rhetoric.
- Contextual Adaptation: Reflected on how to bring these global methodologies back to their specific local youth groups.
The Power of the Cascade
What we saw in Cyprus is a signal that the cascade model is working. Media literacy is no longer a “niche” skill; it is recognized as a core competence for modern youth work.
Every single participant expressed a desire to stay connected, proving that when you provide high-quality, actionable resources, the community is ready to catch the fire.
What’s Next?
This workshop was just Phase One. A selection of these newly trained youth workers will now move into the Youth Laboratories. Here, the roles shift: the trainers become facilitators, and young people step into the spotlight to conduct their own research and produce participatory videos on the issues that matter to them.
Real change happens when we empower educators with the right tools and then give young people the space and trust to tell their own stories.
Funding Agency: JUGEND für Europa
Learn more about HATE-LESS: https://hate-less.eu
