Switch Off Prejudice is an innovative new programme by the Anne Frank Trust UK. Designed to help young people understand the dangers of prejudice and discrimination – particularly online, where they are being increasingly exposed to hate speech.

The programme examines the dangers of prejudice and discrimination both from a historical perspective, and in the modern world, encouraging young people to question and challenge what they see online, and nurturing their development as responsible digital citizens.

‘Switch Off Prejudice’ Workshop

(Two classes, one per day, up to 30 students per class, Peer Guides must attend)

We run day long workshops which aim to give students an in-depth insight into the dangers of prejudice and discrimination, looking at examples from the real world and online. Activities throughout the day look at different forms of prejudice and discrimination, where they stem from and the impact such attitudes and behaviors have on those subject to them.;

Students will begin by exploring how Nazi propaganda influenced public opinion then go on to examine modern day examples of propaganda that are seen online. We invite students to discuss the impact of witnessing and experiencing hate speech online, learn how to be savvy when using social media platforms and explore how to use social media for positive causes.

Our Secondary Programme

The story of Anne Frank is at the heart of our programme, and from it we draw lessons about prejudice and discrimination that resonate with young people in the modern world.

On the first day of our programme, we install our pop-up exhibition Anne Frank: A History for Today, which follows Anne’s life against the backdrop of the rise of the Nazis, persecution and the Holocaust. We train a group of your students to be guides at the exhibition; these Peer Guides go on to take groups of their fellow students around the exhibition, using the strength of peer education to teach about Anne Frank and the wider context of her life.

Building on this knowledge, we also run day-long digital resilience workshops. Activities throughout the day look at different forms of prejudice and discrimination from all across the world and where they may stem from, as well as the impact it can have on the victims themselves. Your students would look at Otto Frank’s life, take part in an in-depth activity focusing on Nazi propaganda, and also look at modern day propaganda images that are frequently used online.

After examining the impact of prejudice and discrimination, we invite students to discuss the dangers of the internet and social media, look at how to be savvy when using these platforms, and how to use them for positive social causes. At the end of the day, students make pledges on how they will carry out some kind of positive action to combat the types of prejudice and discrimination that can crop up in everyday life.

Peer Guides get the opportunity to build on the skills that they have developed, by applying to become an Anne Frank Ambassador. Ambassadors will be given the opportunity to use social media as a source for good, and receive training and support to create a social media campaign to tackle an issue of prejudice or discrimination that concerns them in their school or local community.

Training takes place over two days.