HATE-LESS Germany Participatory Video 1 | 🏠 Home Is Where We Are

EA Editor September 15, 2026 HATE-LESS
HATE-LESS Germany Participatory Video 1 | 🏠 Home Is Where We Are
15 Sep 2026
HATE-LESS
September 15, 2026 EA Editor

When displacement forces someone to leave familiar surroundings behind, the challenge extends far beyond finding shelter. The deeper struggle lies in reconstructing daily routines, overcoming emotional isolation, and regaining a sense of personal agency in an unfamiliar setting.

 

In the first German participatory video created within the HATE-LESS project, coordinator European Youth4Media Network e.V. (Y4MN) hands the storytelling platform to 24-year-old Evelina, who reflects on her move from Zaporizhzhia to Lutsk following the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

 

Her narrative demonstrates how meaningful community engagement can turn disruption into shared strength.

 

Movement, University Life, and Mutual Support

For Evelina, grounding herself in Lutsk was an active process shaped by discipline and artistic expression:

  • Channelling Energy into Movement: Drawing on years of athletic practice in taekwondo, she discovered a profound passion for dance, which provided a healthy emotional outlet during moments of upheaval.
  • Creating Spaces for Others: Rather than remaining an isolated student at Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, Evelina founded her own dance troupe, offering local and displaced young people a shared platform to express themselves.
  • The Power of Purpose: Dedicating time to creative projects allowed her to step into leadership, building mutual trust and enduring friendships within her new community.

 

Her experience highlights that finding one’s place in a new city is rarely a solitary endeavour; it flourishes when supportive environments give young people the space to contribute and lead.

 

Challenging Polarisation Through Participatory Video

The participatory video methodology utilized across the HATE-LESS project is specifically designed to counteract simplified or hostile stereotypes. In online spaces, stories surrounding displacement are too often reduced to sensationalist headlines or political footballs that fuel division.

 

By giving young creators direct control over how their stories are framed, participatory video presents human realities with nuance, dignity, and warmth.

 

Evelina’s message underscores the core values of the HATE-LESS project. Rebuilding a home has very little to do with coordinates on a map. It comes down to who opens the door, what gives your day meaning, and whether you’re allowed to just be yourself.

Watch the Video and Access the Toolkits

 

Funding Agency: JUGEND für Europa

Learn more about HATE-LESS: https://hate-less.eu

Project: 2024-1-DE04-KA220-YOU-000244181

 

Disclaimer: Co-financed by the European Union. The opinions and points of view expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the JUGEND für Europa (German National Agency for Erasmus+ Youth, Erasmus+ Sport and the European Solidarity Corps).