Countering Radicalization of Religious Ideologies through Edutainment and Youth Engagement.

Brief of the project:

The purpose of the project was to prevent radicalisation of religious ideologies (e.g. religious) among young people in the community by increasing their awareness and sensitivity through a youth-led edutainment movement. With this purpose, the project had specific objectives to create awareness and sensitivity among

 targeted young people and their caregivers including community people on prevention of radicalisation of religious ideology in the families and communities. With the specific objectives, the project trained 120 teachers, faith-based leaders, community leaders and young community volunteers [30% women] in the targeted communities. The young volunteers, teachers and community leaders conducted several awareness sessions with targeted young people and their caregivers (parents and community leaders) in the community to raise their awareness on prevention of radicalisation of religious ideology in the families and communities. As per the project plan, more than 4250 young people [about 50% young girl/women]studying in and out faith-based educational institutes as well as about 8500 parents/caregivers of the young/adolescents [50% women] were sensitised through different one-to-one and group peer education session, community awareness session (Friday Speech at Mosques) and comprehensive edutainment campaign that includes folk (Gambhira) song and community theatre performances.

The project achieved its results as per the plan:The project has an inbuilt monitoring and evaluation mechanism. After each intervention, there is a post-effect assessment system. The project intervention Monitoring & Evaluation mechanism indicates that the knowledge level of the project beneficiaries on understanding religious radical ideologies and importance of prevention of radicalisation of religious ideologies have been considerably increased. The sample based informal evaluation indicated that about 75% of the adolescents and 85% of the caregivers developed their understanding to identify the radicalism in ideology. Similar percentage of adolescents and their caregivers understood the negative consequences of radicalisation of ideological believe. Almost 100% of the adolescents and caregivers showed their commitment of rejecting any radical ideology and report accordingly. Considering this findings, we are convinced that the project achieved its objectives. Nevertheless, we acknowledge that fact this it takes a considerable time to understand the actual impact of the project.

• 15 teachers of 15 selected faith-based educational institutes were trained to develop knowledge and skills to conduct interactive teaching-learning sessions on ideological tolerance (religious, political etc.) and prevention of radicalisation of ideology in the community.
• 60 community change makers (young volunteers) were oriented to develop skills to conduct peer education sessions on identification and prevention of radicalisation of ideology in the community.
• 20 community and religious leaders were sensitized and oriented to develop their capacity to prevent radicalisation of ideology in the community.
• 20 of young community performers were trained to develop their capacities to perform street drama on prevention of radicalisation of ideology in the community.
• 5 folk performers were trained to develop their skills to perform Gambhira songs on prevention  of radicalization of ideology in the community.