05-11-2020, Baramulla: Representatives of Save Youth Save Future (SYSF) organised the first event of series of full-day trainings as part of the project “Free 4 Youth: Fighting radicalization to enhance e-strategy for a youth-comprehensive approach towards on-line terrorism”. The training was attended of a total number of 80 young people (38 girls and 42 boys, aged between 17-29 years) and consisted of three different sessions:

• “Introduction, presentation of the project and group dynamics”
• “Vulnerability to violent radicalization in a politically unstable environment”
• “Real case Roundtable”

The first session included activities which acquainted the audience with the project’s aims and objectives, presented the trainers and introduced the participants to each other through non-formal group dynamic workshops. Throughout the activities, the participants expressed their expectations, fears and contributions to the forthcoming trainings, while the trainers relying on various interactive workshops aimed at building trust and enable intercultural dialogue between them.

The second session provided a historical overview of the genesis of violent extremism in the region of Jammu & Kashmir. A special guest speaker participated who was a Professor at a government college, social activist and book author. Throughout the session, the trainers exemplified how young people often fall victim to this phenomenon and attempted to raise awareness about the dangers of youth radicalization, in order to increase young people’s competencies in countering them in their daily life. The theoretical inputs by the trainers were accompanied with practical exercises that facilitated the engagement of participants and their exchange of opinions. The training encouraged them to channel their beliefs in non-violent and non-hate fashion, while providing them with alternative solutions, and aiming at empowering them to become credible voices of their communities.