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.
We set off to make an impact on countering, preventing and diverting violent radicalisation, as it equipped young people, youth workers, social workers and youth organisations with the necessary knowledge for a positive approach in order to prevent violent radicalisation of young people. At the same time, RADEX focused on empowering young people (FIELD SPECIFIC: Engaging, connecting and empowering young people) by enhancing their critical thinking, improving their vigilance and alertness, enhancing their pro-activeness in online social communication and behaviour; as well as by raising awareness on critical matters such as online safety. Furthermore, we wanted to contribute to quality and innovation in youth work and its recognition (FIELD SPECIFIC: Contributing to quality and innovation in Youth Work and its recognition) through providing youth workers, youth organisations and professionals working with young people, with the tools and knowledge to detect the radicalisation process, online and offline, raise awareness among local, national and EU actors on youth radicalisation, by addressing emerging social and ethical challenges and foster a culture of peace.
According to the EC's Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN), the need to combat violent radicalisation in Europe lies in the grassroots of education and knowledge at an early age. Gavrielides (2017; 2018; 2019; 2020) argued that there are more chances to achieve a meaningful change in young people's feelings and perceptions that lead to violence by adopting a positive approach rather than treating them as risks. This approach is captured in the scientific model of the Good Lives Model, which Gavrielides' proved to be effective through the piloting of several multi-year programmes. Despite efforts by the European Commission and other regional bodies and stakeholders, there is still a need to provide tailored support to young people who are at risk of being groomed into violent radicalised acts and speech. At this critical point for Europe,, RJ4All brought together a strategic partnership from 6 Erasmus+ countries (the UK, France, Cyprus, Belgium, Germany and Greece) to address a number of K205 priorities focusing on addressing and preventing violent radicalisation by young people. This report demonstrates that RADEX exchanged its results at national and European levels, helping in this way to achieve the objectives of Erasmus+, the 2015 ‘Paris Declaration’, the EU strategy for combating radicalisation, and the Erasmus+ Inclusion and Diversity Strategy.