On 17 December 2025, Rinova organised the Digital Hate Interrupter Activism Day at the public secondary school Institut Quatre Cantons in Barcelona, as part of the EU-funded HUMAN – Digital Hate Interrupter Activism project. The event brought together young activists, families, educators, civil society actors and local services in a powerful, community-driven day dedicated to combating racism, hate speech and discrimination.

The Activism Day became a living space for dialogue, learning and participation, where HUMAN’s values and tools were experienced first-hand. The event took place alongside the school’s end-of-term open house for families, creating a unique intergenerational setting that allowed students, parents, educators and community members to engage together around shared challenges and responsibilities.

At the heart of the day were the Youth Panel for Diversity (YPD) members involved in the HUMAN project. These young activists did not simply participate, they led the event, sharing their experiences, reflections and creative outputs with confidence and clarity. Through presentations, discussions, posters and audiovisual materials, the YPD showed how young people can actively challenge hate speech, question stereotypes and promote inclusion in their everyday environments.

One of the highlights of the event was the screening of a short video documenting the HUMAN journey of the Spanish Youth Panel for Diversity. The video captures the voices, growth and empowerment of the young participants, as well as the positive impact they have experienced within their school and wider community.

Throughout the day, participants were introduced to key HUMAN tools and results:

• the Manual for Digital Hate Interrupter Activism,
• the Online Learning Platform,
• and the HUMAN podcasts, created by youth.

The HUMAN initiative in Spain was co-designed and implemented in close collaboration with youth and teachers from the Institut Quatre Cantons, the local edu-communication organisation El Parlante, and audio-visual professionals supporting youth-led content creation. The presence of local youth services from the Sant Martí district further strengthened the link between school-based action and municipal support structures.

The Digital Hate Interrupter Activism Day left a strong impression on all those who took part. Young people reported feeling heard, recognised and empowered, while families and educators valued the opportunity to engage directly with youth perspectives and practical tools for prevention and inclusion. By turning a school community gathering into a platform for human rights, participation and dialogue, the event demonstrated how youth-led digital activism can create real, local impact, and how schools can act as key spaces for fostering inclusive, democratic values.

Partners: DYPALL Network Universidade Nova de Lisboa Center for Social Innovation – CSI Institute for Social Studies Το Χαμόγελο του Παιδιού – The Smile of the Child European Antibullying Network