Openness for all
As outlined in the general principles, openness in the form of a “positive welcome culture” for everybody, combined with the voluntariness in participation, is the structural key, the entrance to Open Youth Work. It enables the youth worker to get into contact and relationship with groups who are often no longer approachable for anybody else. This is also facilitated by an absence of any formal barriers, no pressure to commitment up to anonymity.
Create an open but also safe and constructive environment for dispute and discussion
It is a quite demanding and ambitious challenge behind this principle, namely take and accept the youngsters as they are, with all their opinions (also those narrow-minded, downgrading and pejorative ones). Give them some safety but at the same time don‘t let them take over and exploit the whole youth club. Active participation of the youngsters and taking over responsibility by them are an important part of this principle.
Have an own clear and arguable political position
To have an attitude of acceptance towards youth does not mean not to have an own, maybe different political opinion. Quite the contrary, in the context of extremism it is essential to develop your own standpoint and also to clearly express it. In this respect, Open Youth Work acts as a part of Human Rights Education. In the scope of which are equality of all human beings and in this sense it is a counter narrative to all ideologies (and religions) of inequality. This principle is also particularly challenging because it requires the full authenticity of the youth worker.
Know the world of youth
What is evident for youth work in general also especially applies here. Explicit knowledge about the immediate living environment, the social, economic and cultural conditions of youth, is a fundamental precondition for working with them.
Professional knowledge on issues which are important for youth
Hardly any other issue is so much discussed in the current dispute about the work with „radicalised youngsters“ as this one. Hidden behind this discussion is the question of the role of religion in radicalisation in general. Regarding current developments, there is one thesis saying that only religiously well and intensely educated persons (such as religious educators or imams ) are able to sustainably work with those kids, because only they can show them the „right“ (religious) way by delivering the „right“ translation and interpretation (of religious text). However, this is a contradiction to another thesis – often held and promoted by the same persons – that radicalism doesn’t have anything to do with religion. In the end it is about striking a balance – the social worker, youth worker, therapist, whoever is working with those youngsters, has no other choice than to deal with their themes and this includes religion as well. But it is not about deep, it is about SOLID knowledge, such as for all other themes and issues which are important for youth. In working with radical youth, it sometimes makes sense to consult and involve a religious expert. In working with those kids, professional and solid knowledge about religion is also important for the youth worker. It is not necessary to have attained one’s own degree in religious studies, especially when it is about prevention.
Judge on behaviour, not on person
A permanent professional relationship on a volunteer basis can only work with a mutual appreciation of the involved persons. So in the case of verbal or physical offence, the misbehaviour of the person must be in the focus of criticism and not the person itself, especially when it is about violence, glorification of violence, about racism, no matter whether of verbal or physical.
Set clear borders still respecting the person
Borders must be absolutely clearly defined, meaning both the borders in behaviour and in expression (verbal, written, …). Borders must be explained coherently and should not appear random. Violation of those borders must be addressed immediately and in an appropriate way, sometimes also requiring sanction. This is a principle sometimes hard to follow, because it challenges the quality of the relationship between the youth worker and the youth. But especially for persons searching for orientation, clear boundaries are all the more important and frequently it is surprising how thankful they often are accepted.
Time and Continuity
It is important to be aware of the fact that prevention (and also de-radicalisation) is something which needs time and continuity. You have to keep an eye on the ongoing process and need to formulate proper (intermediate) outcomes, regularly reflect and evaluate this to adjust your strategy if necessary.
Most of the measures described above are not new for youth work. However, it is important to recall those basically known principles and adapt them to the current needs. Even though it is essential to resolutely contradict mass media’s dramatization of radicalisation and to put things into perspective, it is also not to be ignored that some polarising pejorative behaviours among youngsters are increasing. The amount of sympathy for Daesh, Salafist movements and their right wing “counter-movements” (which share the same attitudes at the end of the day!) do not give ground for hope that those phenomena will disappear soon.
