TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Cihan Kilic
The aim: to empower people working with youth as well as youth themselves to support the
transformation of societies and be able to address violent radicalisation and extremism
among young people, by analysing local realities, exchanging practices and promoting a
culture of peace.
Objectives:
• To develop a common understanding of notions related to violent radicalisation and extremism;
• To promote the inclusion and participation of youth in shaping lasting peace by raising awareness about legal instruments such as UNSCR 2250;
• To promote the use of counter narratives to hate speech as a tool to prevent violent radicalisation and extremism;
• To bring together people working with youth as well as youth themselves to map and analyse the situation and causes of violent radicalisation and extremism among youth in Europe;
• To empower youth as key actors for peace and promoters of culture of peace through exploring youth-friendly tools in the field of peacebuilding and migration;
• To foster and improve transnational cooperation among people working with youth as well as youth themselves through the exchange of good practices in the area of counteracting violent radicalisation and extremism;
• To increase the competence of people working with youth as well as youth themselves in recognising and contributing to mitigation of violent radicalisation and extremism;
• To empower participants to become multipliers contributing to the transformation of a more peaceful and inclusive society by means of youth work.
The study session brought together 35 young people from 22 Council of Europe member states plus Kosovo and Abkhazia, who are involved in youth work connected to peace-building, conflict transformation or human rights. The group was quite diverse, both regarding background and level of knowledge,
which contributed to deep peer learning and interesting discussions and activities.
Many of the participants were coming from conflict areas/ having migrant
backgrounds/ coming from minority groups. Gender balance was respected.
The training was designed using the principles and values of non formal learning. These principles were introduced to participants on Day 1. The study session included a range of typical non-formal education methods and activities, including but not limited to working groups, role-playing games, plenary and small group discussions, simulations.
In order to ensure that the programme was tailored to participants’ needs, reflections groups were done at the end of every day. Each reflections group were facilitated by one of the trainers. During the evening’s team meetings, the main pointers from reflection groups were discussed and programmed revised, if regarded necessary.
The outcomes of the study session are:
• developed by the participants youth friendly recommendations “Tools to empower young people as agents of change in countering violent extremism and radicalisation”,
• developed by the participants practical tools which can be used by youth workers in their activities with young people on countering violent radicalisation and violent extremism,
• video to welcome the Council of Europe new Secretary General, and
• the infographic on countering violent radicalisation.
I have worked as a full time educational advisor on behalf of Council of Europe where I have contributed to the design, implementation and the evaluation of the training.