Project results

The idea of the project Advanced training for youth workers in using Marshal Rosenberg method of non-violent communication and Forum Theatre for preventing radicalization leading to violence among youth – (F)ACT came from the context of the raise of radicalization leading to violence and extreme ideologies among youth and their consequences on personal and professional development of youth, especially in terms of EU values.
Forum theatre and Marshal Rosenberg’s methodologies, together with youth work methods, showed exquisite results in preventing extremism and radicalization among youth. Aim of the project is to raise awareness of 26 youth workers and youth leaders from 11 countries for creating and delivering local Forum Theatre methodology for and with young people in order to raise assertive communication and empower them to prevent extremism, radicalization leading to violence and its negative effects on young people.

Our partner organizations on the project were:

1. Beyond The Barriers (Albania),
2. Sdrujenie Obedineni profesionalisti za ustoichivo razvitie (Bulgaria),
3. Culture Goes Europe (Cge)- Soziokulturelle Initiative Erfurt Ev (Germany),
4. Environment Online (Greece),
5. Open Circle Association (Hungary),
6. AGITA (Italy),
7. Association For Protect And Education Ofchildren And Young Roma Progress (Macedonia),
8. Szczecinska Szkola Wyzsza Collegium Balticum (Poland),
9. Associação Lusofonia Cultura e Cidadania (Portugal),
10. Tarlabasi Toplumunu Destekleme Dernegi (Turkey)

Advanced training course was held in Vrsac, Serbia, from 30 October to 7 November 2019, within the project that is financed by Erasmus plus programme of EU. There were 24 participants from 11 different countries. After the training all participants:

• Increased knowledge about prevention of youth radicalization leading to violence, extremism and policy documents from international level (EU, CoE, UN, OSCE).
• Enhanced intercultural and communication skills.
• Raised awareness for difference about radicalization, radicalization leading to violence and extreme ideologies and movements.
• Learned advanced skills in applying non-violent communication in the context of addressing the problem about radicalization leading to violence and to raise skills for peaceful debate and approaches in youth work practice.
• Exchanged experiences related to projects dealing with Forum Theater and human rights for dealing with extremism and youth.
• Developed critical thinking for questioning personal values and beliefs.
• Presented and practiced a variety of non-formal learning techniques useful for working with young people and vulnerable groups in preventing radicalization leading to violence.
• became empowered and motivated to use Forum theatre methods in youth work.
• became informed about the EU Programme Erasmus+ and its opportunities with promotion of EU values and values of youth work.
• Gained new friendship and partners for future cooperation.

(F)ACT Local activities
 

1. Albania
Communication is key to preventing violence and as youth workers we have to share the information and help in changing the violent scenarios in everyday life. This was just some of conclusion made by 17 participants - high school and university students - who want to be actively involved in Youth Work, and who took part on workshop „Theatre of the oppressed techniques to promote non violence“ in Albania.
This workshop was held by Kristi Kotini, Kristos Vila and Silvia Dervishi,from NGO Beyond Barriers, and it was done as a part of local activity of (F)ACT project. 

2. Bulgaria
Workshop Radi – Cal organized on 12 December 2019 in Plovdiv was aiming at the promotion of non-violent ways of preventing radicalization leading to violence among youth. This workshop gathered 14 social workers, youth workers, school councelors, educational mediators from the getto in Plovdiv, youth volunteers, representative of youth NGO’s, Municipality structures for prevention of crime, etc.
The workshop was set as a meeting of stakeholders and raised a very good dialogue amongst the participants, who shared their views, personal experience with radiclised youth and what they have noticed to work and what does not work.
OKO thanks to Обединени професионалисти за устойчиво развитие UPSDA and Emilia Crushcov and Николета Янева for great job.

3. Greece
Our colleague from Greece Themis G. Gouthas organized a "Minute of voice", on the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
At least 30 people were effectively screaming for the women who lost their voice, and held orange papers with facts on women's abuse, and also small papers for people who happened to be around.

4. Hungary
Out of the Vicious Circle – A theatrical training for young to-be-actors of the Open Circle Drama Company (Karika & Nyitott Kör, Budapest) was the name of the workshop held by András Zsámboki.
The aim of the workshop was to promote non-violent ways of preventing radicalization leading to violence among youth.

5. Italy
Our colleagues from Italy were specially inspired by the TC and they have organized two local activities in different locations in Italy.
Women from Rione Sanità, historically one of the most degraded neighbourhoods in Naples, attended the workshop Prima della violenza – Teatro per la prevenzione del rischio di violenza tra I giovani (Before violence – Theatre for the prevention of the risk of violence among youth).
The aim of the workshop was to promote non-violent ways of preventing radicalization leading to violence among youth.
As most of participants were 40-years-old mothers, it was interesting to guide them through Forum theatre techniques and the idea of the possibility of changing the society – not only themselves – made them feel “special” in some way.
It is always great honor to see that learned process give such a good result. Thank you Cristina Morra and Agita Teatro for great work in (F)ACT project and dissemination of Forum theatre and NVC methods in your local community.

Workshop with teachers of elementary school on Forum theatre and NVC - Prima della violenza – Teatro per la prevenzione del rischio di violenza tra I giovani (Before violence – Theatre for the prevention of the risk of violence among youth) was held in Lendinara (Rovigo), Italy.
There were 85 teachers from the school that attended the workshop about Rosenberg's Method and Forum Theatre, which they found useful regard to the fact that those methods can be used in daily work with pupils.
This workshop was the first of a series that will take place at the end of March 2020, with the theme on prevention of violence among youth. Thanks to Emilio Milani and Agita Teatro for proactive approach in (F)ACT project

6. Macedonia
Association for protection and education of children and young Roma – Progress from North Macedonia organized workshop on “Young Roma against peer violence and bullying: Videos and discussion”.
The aim of the workshop was to promote non-violent ways of preventing radicalization leading to violence among youth. Workshop held on 30 November 2019 was attended by 15 young Roma high school students (14-18) living in the local municipality of Shuto Orizari.

7. Poland
Poland also organized two events on different locations but with similar target group.
Workshop „What is Violence Communication and Non-Violence communication“ held in Poland with kids from 6-17 years, thanks to our friend Maria Łankiewicz.
She did a great job in very hard period of time for participants, and thus contributed to (F)ACT project.

Let’s be a giraffe! Workshop held in Szczecin, Poland and managed by our colleague Barbara Popiel brought a lot of smiles and good vibes.
After TC (F)ACT in Serbia she organized a workshop in Collegium Balticum with 20 children, age between 7 and 8. They learned about non violent communication using pictures and conversation about their dailiness.
The variety of activities and possibility to play with other children during the workshop helped children to understand better the core of NVC. The last part – preparing masks and using them with particular sentences – found out to be the most important and educating activity. Teachers were observers on the workshop, and they showed interest in the NVC method in their daily work.
We wish to specially thanks Barbara Popiel for great job done and Collegium Balticum for being proactive partner on the project.

8.Portugal
Minha cultura é um problema? (Is my culture a problem?) was the name of the workshop attended by the group of immigrants and Roma women between the ages of 15 – 39, held in Portugal as part of (F)ACT project.
Carla Bezerra and Juliana Rodrigues did a great job on transferring knowledge on non violent communication to this group of women. Their conclusion was that it is important to stand up for themselves and also others.

9. Serbia
Jelena Čakmak and Miloš Lukić, participant of TC (F)ACT from Serbia organized workshop on Marshal Rosenberg’s methods and components of non-violent communication, under the title „United In a Divided World: Implementing non-violent communication in youth work“.
Participants were 11 youthworkers from NGO CEPORA.
It was sucessful workshop and we are happy for the success of our colleagues.

10.Turkey
Our colleagues from Turkey applied knowledge gained during TC (F)ACT and organized workshop to promote non-violent ways of preventing radicalization leading to violence among children in their local community.
Erol Aslan and Merve İnce were trainers at the workshop about applying forum theatre techniques to drawing pictures.
Children had a great time, and we are happy for our colleagues succesful work.

All our project activities were followed on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin) where our target group mostly gathers. Take a look at our Toolkit that was made during the project activities.

We want to say how proud we are of our partners and participants for promoting non-violent communication and Forum theater methods in preventing radicalization among youth! 12 different workshops for children and young people in 10 different communities. This is an indicator that we will not stop in promoting values of non-violent methods in youth work and of course, we would like to thank the Tempus Foundation and Erasmus+ programme supported by European Union, in making our work sense and needed more than ever before. Stay in touch and follow our social media for next activities!