BOND

The BOND project (Building Tolerance, Understanding, and Dialogue across Communities) has made remarkable strides in advancing interfaith and intercultural understanding across Europe. Supported by the European Union, this initiative combats entrenched prejudices and antisemitism while fostering inclusivity and encouraging meaningful dialogue among diverse communities.

Researching Antisemitism to Foster Education and Tolerance across Europe

The BOND project undertook extensive research on antisemitism in Hungary, Italy, Romania, and Poland to address its persistent and evolving dynamics and its connections to other forms of intolerance. Through educational initiatives targeting young people and teachers, the project fosters awareness, critical thinking, and a network of informed advocates dedicated to combating hate and promoting tolerance. This research, incorporating desk and field studies on topics such as antisemitic stereotypes, COVID-19-related antisemitism, and political antisemitism, resulted in the publication of four national reports and one comprehensive report.

Empowering Educators and Preserving Heritage to combat Antisemitism

Key outcomes of the project include educational materials aiming towards advancing the understanding of antisemitism and its links to other forms of intolerance. A youth education event in Warsaw, along with related activities, heighted the awareness of antisemitism and Jewish history among students and educators. Students improved their ability to counter misinformation and prejudice, while teachers gained region-specific resources via the iWitness program (an educational platform by the USC Shoah Foundation that provides access to video testimonies of genocide survivors) and the BOND website. The project also facilitated the formation of a growing network of stakeholders committed to combating antisemitism and fostering tolerance.

To further its impact, the BOND project developed an educational curriculum and training materials aimed at equipping high school educators with tools to teach about antisemitism, Jewish history, and the Holocaust. This curriculum is particularly vital in addressing the recent surge in antisemitism following the October 7 terror attack on Israel. It empowers educators to engage with these sensitive topics effectively and professionally within their national educational systems. Additionally, the project launched an Online Museum to preserve and celebrate the heritage of Jewish and Roma communities in Europe. Featuring an interactive map, photographs, and exhibitions, this digital initiative promotes awareness and dialogue across generations, ensuring that the stories and contributions of these communities continue to inspire and educate.

Project Organization

The BOND project started in January 2023 and was coordinated by Polylogos Association (Romania). Throughout a duration of 24 months with a total number of 113,5 person months, 6 partner organizations were working on analysing the body of knowledge as well as conducting empirical research on the challenges and needs. Among these partners were, apart from the coordinator, SYNYO GmbH, Political Capital Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Associazione di Promozione Sociale Le Rose di Atacama, Fundacja American Jewish Committee Central Europe, and Zachor Alapitvany a Tarsadalmi Emlekezetert. The partners reflected on the complexity of individual and structural dimensions, geographical scale as well as the forms and levels of responses related to different stakeholder groups and practitioners.

Links

Project website

https://www.bond-project.eu/

Antisemitism National Reports

https://www.bond-project.eu/national-reports-on-antisemitism/

Educational curriculum and training materials for youth

https://www.bond-project.eu/educational-curriculum-and-training-materials/

Public Reports

https://www.bond-project.eu/public-reports/

Keywords

Antisemitism, Tolerance, Dialogue, Youth Education, iWitness, Racism, Poland, Italy, Hungary, Romania?

Article Image: Shutterstock/Dragon Images