28 Jan Call for Applicants – Mitigating Online Radicalization and Hate-Speech Program
Introduction & Call for Action
Are you fed up with the radicalization and hate speech that you see online? Would you like to do something about it but missing the right tools?
Join us within the framework of the project Mitigating Online Radicalization and Hate-Speech kindly supported by the Anna Lindh Foundation. The project is addressing the process of radicalization, leading to violent extremism in the online sphere.
During the project, we will arm you with soft skills and you will be able to learn about critical thinking and prevention of hate speech and its deeper understanding. The project consists of an ongoing process, you’ll be required to participate in a 2-day workshop in Feb and another one in March.
The 5 participants with the best projects will travel to Sarajevo end of April.
The finalist picked by the jury will then travel to Brussels, Belgium end of June for the final conference.
We are looking for young people (18-24 y/o) – high school and university students, junior/entry-level employees working for NGOs/CSOs and the state sector, decisive influencers in their communities.
If you are from Lebanon and are up for a challenge, register by filling out this form: Call for Applicants – Mitigating Online Radicalization
About the Project
The project is addressing the process of radicalization, leading to violent extremism in the online sphere. With the spread of global pandemics, many aspects of life have transferred to the online area. So did the attempts to radicalize young people towards violent extremism. Online radicalization is not a novelty, but it gained momentum amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Project Purpose
The project, therefore, aims to strengthen the resilience of young people – future leaders from vulnerable communities – against radicalization and extremism by their mobilization and activation directly in their communities. The resilience of young people will be strengthened via developing their critical thinking and online disinformation awareness. The impact of the project will consist of the creation of a network of active young people, who will work as multipliers of the project’s ideas and goals in their respective communities thus supporting the official policies addressing radicalization and violent extremism in particular project countries.
Why Now?
The phenomenon is undoubtedly not a new one, and several stakeholders are working on this and related issue. Our ambition is to provide a platform for more comprehensive cooperation on the intersection of addressing radicalization in the online sphere and youth, and we try to look for synergies rather than overlaps, that is also the reason for the broader consortium of partners (see below).
The Expected Impact
The main project’s objective will be achieved through activation and strengthening of capacities of identified young leaders who are interested in becoming visible actors against radicalization in their communities. Young leaders will get familiar with how online radicalization functions, its psychology, how to “arm” themselves with counter-narratives against extremist rhetoric/propaganda, they will be taught where to get further help and how to help themselves, their friends who may be in the immediate danger of radicalization. Trainings’ curricula will also focus on the development of critical thinking, disinformation in online sphere awareness, and strategic communication.
Target Group
Active Young People (18-24 y/o) – high school and university students, junior/entry-level employees working for NGOs/CSOs and the state sector, decisive influencers in communities.
Project Goals
1. To identify active young leaders from project countries (with the help of local partners);
2. To train these young leaders, build their capacities so they can act as multipliers against radicalization in their communities (with the help of experts who deal with radicalization, violent extremism, extremist propaganda, disinformation & strategic communication). Sustain their access to gained knowledge through the establishment of a shared network of young leaders and relevant experts.
Interested? Apply Here: Call for Applicants – Mitigating Online Radicalization