PREVENT

Workshops and training in the context of religiously based conflicts

PREVENT is a project for the prevention of religiously motivated extremism aimed at young people and professionals in Berlin. We offer workshops and training courses at schools and in child and youth welfare centres to protect young people from extremist content and to support teachers and educational professionals in finding a way to engage with their pupils. Our experienced trainers teach comprehensive prevention measures and promote a peaceful, tolerant approach to different perspectives, attitudes and identities. Our process-oriented programmes are designed to respond quickly and effectively to any acute need for action.

 

Who can contact the team of PREVENT?

  • Professionals seeking advice
  • Schools and other institutions
  • Youth welfare institutions

 

Our offers

Workshop 1: Interreligious competence

Interreligious and intercultural conflicts are becoming increasingly noticeable in schools and youth welfare centres. These conflicts are often characterised by prejudice, black-and-white thinking, defamation and a lack of understanding for the other person. Issues such as identity, religion/belief, culture and origin play a central role here. Our interfaith workshops offer a targeted approach to these topics and strengthen young people’s self-esteem and their appreciation of others. We emphasise what all people have in common and what unites them, regardless of nationality, religion, culture, ritual and tradition. We create a space for reflection and dialogue through excursions to places of worship of the three monotheistic world religions and discussions about social conflicts and the young people’s experiences of discrimination. On this basis, it is again possible to work through conflict issues and risk factors that promote radicalisation. The following topics are addressed flexibly in our workshops:

  • Foundations and everyday religious practice of the three monotheistic religions
  • Common values of the three monotheistic religions
  • Islam and human rights
  • The role of women in Islam
  • Traditionalism and concepts of honour
  • Dealing with other religions and world views
  • Anti-Semitic attitudes and statements
  • Religiously motivated violence
  • School-specific conflicts with a religious connection, including bullying

Our aim is to view interreligiousness as an opportunity to promote social cohesion and empower young people to treat each other respectfully and peacefully.

Workshop 2: Strengthening identities - against extremism

For many young people, their own identity, religion, origin and culture are not always clearly defined. For young Muslims in particular, their religion is often an important part of their identity that gives them orientation and stability. At the same time, many young Muslims do not feel as being part of (majority) society. Experiences of discrimination, a lack of prospects, a lack of social participation and rudimentary religious knowledge can reinforce their prejudices and make them susceptible to radical arguments. In our workshops, we impart basic knowledge about Islam and show alternative ways of thinking and options for action against extremism. Our participants learn how to resolve tensions between their religious identity and experiences of marginalisation without falling into extremist argumentation patterns. We promote the questioning of thought patterns and strengthen the sense of responsibility for society. Topics covered in our workshops include:

  • Fundamentals and values of Islam
  • Islam, democracy and human rights
  • The role of women in Islam
  • Islamic currents and their cultural backgrounds
  • Tolerance and respect in dealing with other religions and world views
  • Religious fundamentalism
  • Traditionalism and concepts of honour
  • Religiously motivated violence
  • School-specific conflicts with a religious connection

Our aim is to enable young people to constructively reflect on their religious identity and develop a tolerant and respectful attitude towards other religions and world views. We want to encourage them to play an active role in shaping a pluralistic society and to take a stand against extremist ideologies.

Training courses for educational multipliers

The training courses aim to support educational professionals in their work with young people who display extremist or fundamentalist attitudes. The main aim is to give participants the ability to recognise extremist arguments and to develop strategies to dispel these arguments. The training courses are designed for participants who regularly interact with young people who are potentially at risk of extremism.

Module 1: We deal with the differentiated recognition of extremism and fundamentalism as well as with basic information about Islam and its relationship to human rights and fundamental rights. Classic argumentation patterns of religiously based extremism and traditional concepts of honour are also dealt with.

Module 2: We focus on creating dialogue and facilitating new perspectives. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their own positions and clarify how they can develop a working relationship with young people with inhuman attitudes. The aim is to create uncertainty among the radicalised clientele and to open up the topic in everyday professional life.

The methods include keynote speeches, small group work, case work and dialogue exercises to ensure an interactive and practical learning process.

Other formats

All our programmes are adapted to the needs of professionals and young people and are process-oriented.

Topic-orientated discussion groups: On request, we organise topic-oriented discussion group formats in small groups by arrangement. These offer an open and supportive environment in which to discuss relevant topics, share experiences and develop solutions. The topics can vary depending on the needs and interests of the participants and can include, for example, the promotion of interfaith understanding, dealing with discrimination or the prevention of religiously motivated violence.

Anti-violence and competence training® in an individual setting: If required, we also offer anti-violence and competence training® for young people in the context of religiously motivated incidents of violence. These training sessions aim to strengthen the social and emotional skills of young people in order to show them alternative ways of acting and support them in recognising and avoiding violent behaviour. The training programmes are tailored to the individual needs and backgrounds of the young people and are conducted by experienced specialists.

Our approach

Our process-oriented programmes encourage active exchange, reflection and the joint development of solutions. We emphasise the importance of creating a safe and respectful space in which young people and professionals feel equally heard and supported. If you are interested in a workshop, further training or counselling, please give us a call or send us an email. PREVENT are free of charge and open to all.

Contact

Violence Prevention Network
PREVENT
Bergmannstraße 5
Haus 2, 3. Stock
10961 Berlin

+49 30 544 677 79
berlin@violence-prevention-network.de

Project Manager: Feride Aktaş, Orhan Şenel, Thomas Mücke

If you have an urgent need for advice regarding suspected radicalisation, please contact the Advice Centre Berlin – a project that provides advice for relatives and the social environment as well as individual case support and assistance.

PREVENT is financed by