Teen Voice Amplified 10 times
Context
In recent years, adolescents in Romania have increasingly been confronted with hate speech and forms of discrimination that affect their relationships and trust in society.
The phenomenon occurs both in schools and online, where toxic influencers and aggressive campaigns amplify stereotypes and prejudice.
Romania is among the European countries with the highest levels of bullying, and the lack of critical thinking practice makes many young people vulnerable to manipulation and disinformation.
Teen Voice responds to this reality by creating a space where young people can make their voices heard, learning to recognise and challenge discrimination. The project brings together high school and university students from Bucharest and ten cities in southern and south-eastern Romania, who become active actors in a national campaign to promote respect and inclusion.
Objectives
The project aims to strengthen young people’s ability to recognise and counter hate speech through critical thinking, free expression and constructive dialogue. At the same time, it builds civic, communication and advocacy skills, contributing to the development of a generation that understands and promotes human rights.
This happens through the formation of a group of at least 15 high school and university students, who undergo training in human rights, public speaking and debate. They form the nucleus of a ten-month national campaign, designed and carried out by the young people themselves.
The campaign combines online and offline dimensions: over 3,000 young people are reached through messages and videos distributed on social media, while at least 1,000 more take part directly in meetings and discussions organised in ten cities.
The ultimate objective is for the young participants to become more resilient to disinformation and toxic discourse and to gain confidence that they can influence their communities. At the same time, the project builds bridges between young people, teachers, organisations and media to foster a culture of respect and diversity.
Activities
The project comes to life with the formation of a task force of high school and university students, selected from several cities.
The 15 participants meet at the beginning for several days of intensive preparation, working closely with trainers and exploring how to approach complex topics: from legislation and human rights to debating techniques and public speaking.
This stage is not just a course, but an exercise in trust and solidarity, helping them to grow into a team.
Following this training, the “Teen Voice” campaign unfolds over ten months. Online, posts and video materials appear regularly, addressing themes chosen by the young people themselves, each month focusing on a different perspective.
The tone of the campaign is created by young people for young people, designed to counteract the toxic messages that flood social media every day.
At the same time, the team travels to ten cities in southern and south-eastern Romania for face-to-face meetings with high school and university students.
These visits are not simple presentations, but genuine moments of dialogue, where more than 1,000 participants openly discuss discrimination, stereotypes and the ways change can be achieved in their communities.
The atmosphere is enriched by the involvement of teachers, local journalists and civic organisations, who bring additional perspectives.
The entire experience is captured in a video documenting the team’s journey and the energy of the campaign, which will be presented at the Forum Initiatives de la Jeunesse 2026.
Results
The immediate result is the creation of a team of 15 young people able to pass on messages of diversity and respect. They carry forward the skills acquired and continue to be active voices in the public space.
The ten-month online campaign manages to reach more than 3,000 adolescents, offering them alternatives to the toxic content that circulates daily on social media. F
or many, encountering these inclusive messages represents the first time they see a different kind of public discourse – one that emphasises respect and diversity.
The direct meetings in the ten cities bring together over 1,000 high school and university students, who have the opportunity to discuss face-to-face about discrimination and human rights.
These dialogues generate not only awareness, but also the courage to speak out in their own communities about issues that often remain hidden.
In the long term, the project translates into a generation of young people more resilient to disinformation and hate speech, and into a school and civic environment more closely connected to the values of human rights.
