Prevent Radicalisation through Identity DEvelopment (working title: U Count) Erasmus Project

Project Title

Prevent Radicalisation through Identity DEvelopment (working title: U Count)

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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Migrants’ issues; Inclusion – equity; Integration of refugees

Project Summary

(PR)IDE is a strategic partnership in the youth sector that uses the concept of transformative learning to avoid radicalisation among refugees. (PR)IDE seeks to empower refugees to deal positively with the migration experience through mutual exchange. The focus is especially on the importance of finding and stabilizing one’s own identity with regard to migration (voluntary as well as involuntary migration). Based on the perception from professional exchange, participation of affected persons and as well as from field research with small groups, several tools will be developed which will be tested in practice within the framework of the project.

The project has dealt intensively with the development of resilience in times of change and the prevention of radicalisation. The project approach focuses on learning and developing identity. The term “learning” refers to all dimensions of learning and in this case aims at a transformation of perspectives, emotions and behaviour. The increased resilience will enable young people to protect their own identity in times of change and to face possible discrimination and marginalisation in a stronger way. In our work it turned out that the consideration of emotions was the key to success.

The project partners worked together with a local youth group consisting of about 10 migrants, refugees and young adults with a voluntary migration experience, located in Sweden, Germany, Austria and Slovenia during the project period and involved the young people intensively in the process of co-creation.

In October 2018 a big learning activity took place in Berlin, where all youth groups got to know each other and worked together in different workshops.

The following project results were developed:

IO1 is a summary of the innovative approach to the problem of radicalisation prevention using the concept of transformative learning. The publication captures the underlying reasoning from a scientific approach.

IO2 is a manual for youth workers. The publication was originally intended for young people themselves, but during the project process we determined that the material should be addressed to youth workers and volunteers who want to use the concept of (PR)IDE to unite groups of migrants and refugees, who have experienced voluntary and involuntary migration. This guide can also be used as a teaching tool for international volunteers and interns, who want to discover the dimension of their intercultural experience.

IO3 is a collection of media, designed to enable any youth organisation to introduce the concept of (PR)IDE to support the target group of young migrants and prevent radicalisation, consisting of an online course; a collection of best practice examples from other youth organisations; a Facebook group for all participants of the online course and YouTube videos.

IO4 is a handbook for teachers on how schools can prevent radicalisation among young people. The school’s part in this work is very different to non-formal youth work.

IO5 is a policy paper that outlines how and what political support and commitment is needed, to support youth organisations in making radicalisation prevention more effective and it is aimed at youth organisations that want to stabilise their work through support from the authorities. Its visibility and its contribution to the solution will be more urgent.

Impact:
93% of participants said that the learning activity in Berlin influenced their own behaviour.
94% of the participants told their friends and/or family about the project and the results.
87% feel they are part of the (PR)IDE community.
96% wish to see the other participants of the project again.

The greatest impact at local or regional level is the creation of a network of young people who haven’t had any overlaps in their lives to name, but have had similar life experiences. Since the work with the youth groups did not end at the local level but was brought together through an international learning activity, it was possible to imitate an international network based in Europe. At the European level, (PR)IDE has promoted a better understanding of the need for social inclusion, empowerment and prevention of discrimination, especially among the group of refugees and migrants, among groups who have not yet addressed intercultural conflicts and diversity.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 227330 Eur

Project Coordinator

KulturLife gGmbH & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Working with Europe/Treballant amb Europa Associació
• Staffangymnasiet/Hälsinglands utbildningsförbund
• InterAktion – Verein für ein interkulturelles Zusammenleben
• OSTBAYERISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE REGENSBURG
• INTEGRATION FOR ALLA
• DRUSTVO ZA RAZVIJANJE PROSTOVOLJNEGA DELA NOVO MESTO
• Pro IFALL AB