The heroes of press freedom
The heroes of pressfreedom teaches democracy and human rights and independent journalism.
The game is based on real events that independent journalists in Belarus have experienced 2020-2021.
The game
How to play
The role-playing game Heroes of Freedom of Speech was developed to give participants the opportunity to experience life in authoritarian Belarus from a journalist’s perspective. The game is based on real events from the lives of independent journalists and activists in Belarus following the presidential election in August 2020.
Belarus and freedom of expression
The protests in Belarus from 2020 to 2021 are a series of demonstrations and political actions in connection with the 2020 presidential election.
Freedom of expression includes the right to express and communicate opinions without censorship, restriction, or punishment.
Larysa
I am a 47 year old freelance journalist from Belarus (Gomel). My real profession is historian, but for the last 13 years I have been working as a journalist for Belsat TV channel and the human rights website “Homel Spring”. I shoot videos, take photos and write texts. The repression against me began long before the election of 2020.
Yauhen
I’m 34 years old and although my profession is history teacher, I work as a freelance journalist for various independent Belarusian mass media (Belsat, Novy Chas, Greenbelarus.info etc.). I cover different topics including politics, regular life of people here, culture and so on. I’m not only writing texts, I also work for the Belarusian-polish independent Belsat TV channel, since 2014.
To flee
When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, partly through Belarus, the situation worsened further. Companies fled as financial transactions became difficult due to sanctions. Highly educated individuals and students also left the country.
For questions about the game or workshops related to it, please contact: Ingrid Svanfeldt
The project has been granted funding from the following foundations:
The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Foundation for Journalistic Culture – Jokes and the Foundation for Media and Development – Vikes.
Copyright © 2026 Svanfield OY