LOVE-Storm

LOVE-Storm is an initiative that has been actively fighting against hate, denigration, and insults on the internet since 2017. Our goal is to promote a movement of digital civil courage and empower interested and engaged individuals to effectively counter hate and cyberbullying online. Our mission is based on three central goals:

• Strengthening and supporting those attacked
• Activating bystanders to speak out against hate
• Setting non-violent boundaries against attackers

LOVE-Storm offers a comprehensive learning and training platform where strategies for counter-speech can be learned in online trainings and deepened through e-learning. This includes:

• Training manual and teaching materials: Our materials help educators and other multipliers understand the phenomenon of digital violence and apply practical methods for addressing online hate in classes and workshops[1][4][5].
• Online role plays and workshops: These interactive methods allow participants to try out and internalize possible reactions to hate and cyberbullying. The LOVE-Storm training room has been specially developed to conduct online role plays safely and realistically[5].
• Further training offers: We provide training for teachers and other educators to enable them to conduct their own trainings on developing counter-speech strategies with different target groups[4][5].

LOVE-Storm continuously works on expanding and improving our offerings. Here are some of our sustainability goals and initiatives:

• International collaboration: As part of a project funded by ERASMUS+, we have expanded our learning platforms and training rooms into Slovak, Italian, Croatian, and English to broaden our reach[5].
• Cooperation with NGOs: Since 2022, we have been coaching smaller and larger NGOs to make their social media channels safer and effectively combat hate online[5].