Words have power. WSB-NLU a partner of the conference dedicated to counteracting hate speech

On 9 October 2026, the conference “WORDS HAVE POWER – about hate, responsibility and better relationships in the digital world” will take place at Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu – National Louis University in Nowy Sącz. The event is aimed at secondary school students and will provide a space for discussion about responsibility for words, online safety, empathy and the conscious building of relationships both in the real and digital world.

Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu – National Louis University in Nowy Sącz has become a partner of the conference organised by Małopolska Agency for the Development of Education, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Sp. z o.o. – MAREPII as part of the “Words Have Power” project.

The conference is organised in connection with World Mental Health Day and serves as a summary of the project aimed at secondary school students. Its goal is to raise awareness of the risks associated with hate, hate speech and violence in the digital environment, as well as to promote responsible and safe online communication.

Hate from different perspectives

The conference programme has been prepared to address the issue of hate broadly and from different perspectives: psychological, legal, social and digital security-related.

The event programme will include, among others:

• the final of the “Young People Against Hate” film competition, combined with a presentation of the winning films and the announcement of the results of the online vote,

• “Cyber Hygiene: protect yourself, respect others” – Wojciech Bobak, President of R-SEC,

• “Legal responsibility of minors” – mł. asp. mgr Radosław Koział, specialist of the Juvenile Crime Prevention and Pathology Team of the Prevention Department of the Municipal Police Headquarters in Nowy Sącz,

• “Words have power – about hate, kind words, responsibility for communication and the impact of upbringing on our relationships with others” – psychologist Małgorzata Kmak and Małgorzata Cieciel,

• “Proper response to hate” – Dawid Szufryn, long-time captain and legend of the “Sączers”.

A topic particularly close to WSB-NLU

WSB-NLU’s partnership in organising the conference is a natural continuation of the educational activities undertaken by the University for children and young people.

In 2024, as part of the “Partner School” programme, Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu – National Louis University in Nowy Sącz carried out an extensive series of specialised preventive workshops “Hate from a legal, psychological and IT perspective”.

A total of 946 students took part in the programme, representing both primary and secondary schools. The sessions covered issues related to the functioning of the law in the context of cyberbullying, the psychological mechanisms of hate, ways of dealing with verbal aggression and the safe use of online spaces.

Students developed communication skills, expanded their awareness of the legal consequences of their own actions, and learned how to respond appropriately in situations requiring support for their peers. An important element of the programme was also the development of attitudes based on respect, empathy, responsibility and the conscious use of digital spaces.

The activities carried out by WSB-NLU demonstrated how important it is to have open conversations with young people about the phenomena they encounter every day, both at school and on social media and in other online spaces.

See what the WSB-NLU workshops dedicated to counteracting hate and safety in the digital world looked like

The “WORDS HAVE POWER” conference fits perfectly into this idea and represents another step in efforts to raise awareness among young people, counteract cyberbullying and build a responsible culture of communication.

Words can hurt. They can also support

Hate and cyberbullying do not remain solely within the screen. Words spoken directly and published online can have a real impact on another person, their emotions, sense of security, self-esteem and relationships with others.

Therefore, during the conference, particular emphasis will be placed not only on recognising threats, but above all on responsibility for communication, responding appropriately to hate and building relationships based on mutual respect and empathy.

It is also an opportunity to show young people that each of us has an impact on the quality of the space we create together, including the digital one. A conscious word can stop a harmful situation, support another person and become the beginning of positive change.
Because words truly have power. They can hurt, but they can also support, build and change the world for the better.

Join the conference

• 9 October 2026

• 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

• Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu – National Louis University in Nowy Sącz

Due to the limited number of places, advance registration is required. Registrations may be individual or group registrations.

• Register for the “WORDS HAVE POWER” conference

• Learn more about the “Words Have Power” project and find out more about the event

We warmly invite secondary school students together with their teachers and supervisors to participate in the conference. Let us talk together about how to create a safer, more empathetic and responsible space for young people, both offline and online