The topic of antisemitism, xenophobia, hate speech, and the ways in which we must combat them will bring together young people from Bulgaria and Italy, representatives of institutions, diplomatic missions, and civil organizations in Burgas. On November 25 and 26, 2024, the International Conference “Youth for Tolerance: Methods and Best Practices in Combating Antisemitism and Hate Speech” will take place at the “Flora” Exhibition Center, organized by the Center for Jewish-Bulgarian Cooperation “Alef” and the Institute for Educational Technologies at the National Research Council in Genoa, Italy. The aim of the conference is to provide a platform for international exchange of best practices for combating modern-day antisemitism, xenophobia, and hate speech among young people, as well as to promote initiatives for preserving the historical memory of the Holocaust.
Over the past year, the number of instances of antisemitism and hate speech in Europe and Bulgaria has significantly increased. As a member of the Contact Group for Combating Antisemitism, established by the Bulgarian Government, the “Alef” Center actively works against such manifestations. The organization focuses mainly on young people, who are in the process of building their value systems and criteria for humanism.
During the conference in Burgas, the efforts of various institutions and organizations to counter antisemitism will be discussed. Experts will share their experiences and outline the path that must be followed in the name of peace, understanding, and preserving the traditionally tolerant nature of Bulgarian society.
The forum will involve representatives of local and national institutions working against antisemitism and xenophobia in Bulgaria, representatives of various diplomatic missions in the country, civil organizations, youth – laureates of the annual International Literary School Contest “Who Saves One Human Life, Saves the Entire Universe”, activists from the Institute for Educational Technologies in Genoa, Italy, students from the 134th Secondary School “Dimcho Debelyanov” in Sofia, the Geo Milev English Language High School, and the Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov Vocational School of Tourism. Presentations will be made by Associate Professor Dr. Rumyana Marinova-Khristidi, Head of the Department of Hebraistics at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and Stefania Manka, Director of the Institute for Educational Technologies at the National Research Council in Genoa, Italy. Practical workshops will be organized for the young participants.
For the first time in Burgas, the photo exhibition “Bring them home – The Hamas Attack of October 7” by world-renowned photographer Ziv Koren will be presented. The exhibition is dedicated to the innocent Israeli citizens who became victims of the Hamas attack. Over the past three decades, Koren has captured some of the world’s most dramatic events and is considered one of the leading documentary photographers of our time.
The conference will take place on November 25 (Monday) from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and on November 26 (Tuesday) from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the “Flora” Exhibition Center in Burgas.
The working language will be Bulgarian, with simultaneous translation into English provided.
“Youth for Tolerance: Methods and Best Practices in Combating Antisemitism and Hate Speech” is a project of the Center for Jewish-Bulgarian Cooperation “Alef” and the Institute for Educational Technologies at the National Research Council in Genoa, Italy. It is supported by the European Network of Practitioners against Antisemitism (EPNA) and funded by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.
