Mobilising Against Extremism through Countering and Diverting Radicalisation of Young People Erasmus Project

Project Title

Mobilising Against Extremism through Countering and Diverting Radicalisation of Young People

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Youth (Participation, Youth Work, Youth Policy) ; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

According to the Radicalisation Awareness Network, “fighting terrorism and violent extremism involves more than surveillance and security….The most effective prevention strategies stop people from getting involved in violent extremism or acts of terrorism in the first place”.When we speak about extreme militant groups such as ISIS,their main target is thought to be young people between 16–24 years old;however, the radicalisation and indoctrination process may start at 11-12 years old. Security officials and analysts in the U.K. believe that, many times, far-right extremists are inspired from Islamist militant and terror groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda;and they form their nationalist ideology around those groups, while they use online platforms and social media to spread it.This suggests that the need to combat radicalisation lies in the grassroots of education and knowledge at an early age.It is crucial that disenfranchised and vulnerable young people, and “easy targets”, are supported and guided to identify and stop such process,and that they are offered the necessary tools to do so.

Target group: Young people, youth workers, youth organisations, social workers, front-line practitioners, trainers, educators.

The participants in the project will be:
1) Researchers, project and financial managers involved in the project as staff.
2) Young people, youth organisations, youth workers, youth professionals, social workers, front-line practitioners
3) They will be invited to take part in the Multiplier Events and the Final Conference
4) Other participants: This category includes participants such as media representatives, NGO representatives, EU VIPs etc.

The project RADEX aims to prevent and divert young people’s radicalisation through providing the target groups with the following results:

• The capacity and power to identify and comprehend different types of online radicalisation processes aiming at youth, by offering them a full suite of educational resources containing real data and information on youth radicalisation processes.
• A simulation video to showcase how,when and where different types of radicalisation processes may take place, their subject matter, based on real data and online research investigations and spread of hate-propaganda.
• A Digital Alert Tool aimed at disenfranchised youth.The digital alert will be available and used as a “rescue line” for young people who may feel as subjects to radicalisation processes, which will offer support and guidance.Initially, the tool can be used as a game,guiding young people through the process of exploring whether they (or another person) is being radicalised or not.
Objectives:
• Prevent and divert violent radicalisation and extremism of young people
• Provide the target groups the tools and knowledge to detect the radicalisation process,online and offline
• Provide the target groups the knowledge to identify radicalised and extremist behaviour and different radicalisation processes
• Provide for a full suite of educational resources on radicalisation and extremism
• Provide for a digital alert for disenfranchised youth that will serve as a tool to detect radicalisation processes
• Raise awareness among local, national and EU actors on youth radicalisation processes and patterns
• Address emerging social and ethical challenges and foster a culture of peace

Accordingly, RADEX will:
• Enhance young people’s critical thinking
• Improve vigilance and alertness of young people, online and offline, and educate the target group on approaching such topics and young people that are vulnerable to radicalisation
• Enhance young people’s pro-activeness in online social communication and behaviour
• Raise awareness of young people and youth workers on critical matters such as online safety
• Provide for educational resources and a tool to prevent and divert violent radicalisation which will be used by young people, youth workers, social workers, trainers, youth organisations etc.

All the above will be achieved through three IOs,which will strengthen young people and youth worker’s awareness and vigilance regarding online platforms, as well as raise awareness among local, national and European networks to prevent and divert youth radicalisation in Europe.

RADEX will make an impact on countering, preventing and diverting violent radicalisation, as it will equip young people, youth workers, social workers, youth organisations with the tools needed to identify patterns, methods, and different processes of youth radicalisation and a digital tool to prevent and/or divert it, when it happens. RADEX will also enhance young people’s critical thinking and improve vigilance and alertness of young people, online and offline, and teach youth workers, social workers, youth organisations etc., how to approach such topics.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 200435 Eur

Project Coordinator

Restorative Justice for All International Institute cic & Country: UK

Project Partners

• CLUB FOR UNESCO FOR EDUCATION, SCIENCE & CULTURE
• Ingenious Knowledge GmbH
• INCLUSIVE EUROPE VZW
• SYNTHESIS CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION LIMITED
• ASSOCIATION DES AGENCES DE LA DEMOCRATIE LOCALE