From Hate to Hope

During this 10-15 hour online course, participants:

Explore the dynamics of hate including the ways in which people are manipulated to feel and express hate.
Gain strategies for building resilience to hate through dialogue.
Integrate best practices for using social media for advocacy.
Analyze and develop strategies for using social media to build resilience in different sectors.

Designed with different community stakeholders in mind, this MOOC addresses current issues surrounding hate and radicalization head on. Starting with an exploration of the distinction between hate speech and free speech, the content moves on to look at how social media can be used to both traffic and challenge hateful messages. This MOOC is distinguished by its integration of multiple voices and perspectives on these issues. It also addresses hot topics like fake news, filter bubbles and tactics used by hate groups, which are analyzed with examples. More importantly, tangible solutions for prevention, resilience and advocacy, online and offline, are presented as participants are called upon to make a difference in their own sectors. Each module offers a wealth of varied, current and actionable knowledge, exchanges with peers, as well as interactive exercises, some of which are online, using the hashtag #EspoirAmalHope.

The MOOC will contribute to policy and decision-making among public policy officials, community leaders, women rights activists and higher education institutions represented by their Lebanese partner organisations, particularly in helping to create more capable and inclusive institutions. This project was funded by Global Affairs Canada (2018-2019).

First iteration – May and June 2020

The first iteration of the course ran in May and June 2020. We welcomed 515 participants from 55 countries and the level of engagement was extraordinary. We’ve received excellent feedback from partners at UNESCO, NGOs, schools, students, as well as from public safety and public policy institutions about their experiences in the course. Currently, we are working on an evaluation of this first run of the course to help us prepare for future iterations as well as new modules. If you’d like to hear when the next iteration of the course runs, please subscribe to our newsletter.

Second iteration – November and December 2021

Based on extensive evaluation of the first run, we updated and relaunched our course in November and December of 2021. We welcomed 202 participants from 24 countries. One of the highlights of this run was our three live sessions, held over Zoom, where participants came together to unpack the themes of the course and to share their experiences with one another. For our last live session, we collaborated with Thirdspace Playback Theatre to reenact or “play back” participants’ stories to music, adding an arts-based method into the mix. If you’d like to hear when the next iteration of the course runs, please subscribe to our newsletter.

Third iteration – January and February 2023

This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.

Testimonials and tweets

Below are some testimonials and tweets from participants.