Open Youth work has been confronted with the issue of radicalisation for a long time and is used to accompanying adolescents on a voluntary basis. Therefore bOJA, the competence centre for open youth work in Austria cooperated with the Ministry of Family and Youth in setting up the Extremism Advice Centre. It provides information and advice if parents, teachers, youth workers or other frontline workers are confronted with the issue of extremism. It offers a free hotline, face to face counselling and a variety of workshops on issues such as anti-discrimination, racism, jihadism and right wing extremism. The multi-professional and intercultural team aims to find ways to give back trust and cooperative attitudes by strengthening the family and young adolescents within their social environment.
by Verena Fabris
Verena Fabris has been active in the field of human rights and social issues for many years and is now director of the Extremism Advice Centre in Austria.
Photos: © bOJA
Video: © bOJA/Stephanie Deimel, Karin Peham-Strauß
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