Full Project Title:
Stop Radicalization: Sport for Preventing and Addressing Radicalization and Extremism through Knowledge Building
Acronym: Stop Radicalization
Duration: 24 months (M1–M24)
Coordinator: Dunărea de Jos University of Galați (UDJG), Romania
Contact: Iconomescu Teodora Mihaela
Funding Programme: Erasmus+ Sport 2023-SCP — Cooperation in the Field of Sport
Project Number: 101182839
Overall Goal
To contribute to increasing the quality of work in preventing radicalization and extremism in Europe, particularly among young people with fewer opportunities involved in football.
Key Objectives
- Strengthen capacities: Train coaches and youth workers to prevent and recognize early warning signs of radicalization.
- Promote positive values: Present sport as a tool for ethical and social development.
- Develop transferable tools: Create and test at least two educational methodologies for football coaches.
- Foster cooperation: Build collaboration between over 210 actors working with young footballers.
- Increase policy awareness: Support policymakers in developing prevention strategies.
Target Groups
- Primary: At least 210 football coaches, youth workers, and professionals who work with young people with fewer opportunities in football.
- Secondary: At least 210 young people (boys and girls) with fewer opportunities playing football.
- Broader Stakeholders: Local and national policymakers, sports organizations, football clubs, public bodies, youth associations, teachers, families, and the general public.
Key Activities & Outputs:
- Mapping and Assessment: Research on youth radicalization and its impact on football in partner countries.
- Training Methodology Development: Creating practical guides and methodologies for coaches and youth workers.
- E-learning Toolkit: Developing digital educational tools and an online learning platform.
- Training Courses: Conducting face-to-face training for coaches and youth workers.
- Guide for Football Clubs: Creating a resource for clubs on preventing radicalization.
- Exploitation Roadmap & Guidelines: Developing strategies for policy influence and broader application of project results.
- Grassroots Activities: Organizing local events and meetings to engage communities.
- Dissemination: Utilizing websites, social media, press releases, seminars, and publications to share project results and raise awareness.
Project Approach:
- Collaborative: Involves 7 experienced organizations from 4 European countries (Spain, Portugal, Poland, Romania) plus Turkey.
- Multidisciplinary: Integrates experts from sports, psychology, sociology, and political science.
- Inclusive: Focuses on young people with fewer opportunities and promotes social inclusion, gender equality, and cultural diversity.
- Evidence-based: Utilizes research, needs analysis (Problem Tree approach), and best practices.
- Innovative: Employs digital tools, e-learning, and modern training methodologies.
- Eco-friendly: Incorporates green practices in project phases.
Expected Impact:
- Social: Increased awareness and capacity among coaches and trainers to identify and address radicalization, creation of safer environments, promotion of positive youth development through sport.
- Economic: Free training for coaches, families, and volunteers, potential for professional development and dissemination of project findings.
- Policy: Contribution to policy agendas on social inclusion, sport policy, and regional development, identification of best practices, and informing future policy guidelines.
Sustainability:
- Financial: Primarily volunteer-based or supported by youth sport organizations, with potential for operational grants.
- Educational: Acquired skills and knowledge by participants will be used to support ongoing prevention efforts.
- Communication: Dissemination of products in multiple languages and partner networks will ensure continued reach.
- Social: Continued application of learned skills by trained youth workers and coaches, integration of the methodology into training activities.