The main project aim is divided into four specific objectives:
Increase and leverage the awareness and knowledge of first-line practitioners regarding radicalization and polarization among children and youth: Using a mix of academic know-how, past experience of partners as well as examples of best practices collected, through expert interviews and focus groups ARMOUR will prepare a repository of best practices (which will be used in the design of the experimental labs).
Increase the skills of first-line practitioners and members of vulnerable communities in addressing radicalization and polarization among children and youth: ARMOUR achieves this through (a) the design and implementation of the experimental laboratories, who aim to teach first-line practitioners tools for developing social competence, problem solving, emotional competence and autonomy building; and (b) the design and implementation of a train the trainer programme (TTT programme) for first-line practitioners. The experimental labs will take place in six countries across Europe and will include a selection of laboratories per country (i.e. three individual agency labs, three community capacity building labs and one state response building lab). The TTT programme is aimed at teaching first-line practitioners how to design and use the experimental labs in their work, and will take place across – again – seven European countries.
Strengthen cooperation and exchange of expertise among practitioners working with children and youth: Through its different engagement activities, such as the focus groups, the experimental labs and the TTT programme, ARMOUR creates a framework which enables first-line practitioners from across seven European countries to interact and exchange expertise.
Raising awareness on polarization and promoting moderate narratives and voices to the silent mainstream majority: To achieve this goal ARMOUR will design and organize a social media campaign promoting credible alternatives and positive narratives aimed at capacitating both individuals and communities in creating viable solutions, alternative non-violent ways of expressing grievances and effecting positive change within society.
To achieve these objectives, the ARMOUR Project designs a specific experimental model and breaks down the work into six separate flows:
Work Package 1 ‘Management and coordination of the action’ (WP1) oversees that the project is completed on time and within budget, the project's objectives are met and that every partner provides their results in accordance with project plan and needs. A Steering Committee is formed and includes one representative from each partner to ensure the whole consortium is in line with the scope of the project and its aims.
Check out the News Section for updates regarding the overall project development.
Work Package 2 ‘Mapping challenges, needs, innovative solutions required in the process of prevention and de-radicalization’ (WP2) aims to (a) identify challenges and needs of first line practitioners working with children and youth in the area of countering violent extremist idea and behaviour; (b) identify and analyse best practices and available tools; and (c) validate the initial concept of the experimental laboratories.
More details on WP2 can be found in the Mapping challenges Section. The results of WP2 will feed all other work packages.
Work Package 3 ‘Experimental labs’ (WP3) seeks effective design, testing and implementation of a set of seven experimental labs based on (1) the cognitive-behavioural instructional model and (2) the learning by doing model. The main aim of WP3 is to provide trainees with an essential set of skills and behaviours easily usable and adaptable in their daily professional activities. The labs will be created as a safe chamber where participants can experience alternative ways of responding to push and pull factors of social polarisation and extremism.
More details on the WP3 activities, related documents and events can be found in the Experimental labs Section of the website.
Work Package 4 ‘Integrating best practices and training’ (WP4) aims to design and carry out a train the trainer programme for first-line practitioners and civil society representatives on (a) best practices in the field of countering extremist ideologies and polarization among young people, and (b) integrating and using the ARMOUR experimental labs in their countering violent extremism activities. The training programme will empower first-line practitioners and civil society to better address the phenomena of radicalization and polarization among young people both by helping them make better use of existing knowledge in this field and also by providing them with a clear tool they can use in their work, that does not require an extensive allocation of resources and is complementary to existing efforts in this field.
More details on the WP4 activities, related documents and events can be found in the TTT programme Section of the website.
Work Package 5 ‘Evaluation, testing and validation of design’ (WP5) is to carry out an impact assessment of the experimental labs. A rigorous impact assessment methodology will be elaborated and implemented, including quantitative and qualitative methods, aiming at measuring and registering the results of the labs in connection to the expected results and planned objectives, in terms of impact (if the expected objectives have been reached at the level of participants in relation to changing of behaviour and adopting the techniques and instruments in the professional activity) and process (applicability of the labs’ design).
More details on the WP5 activities, related documents and events can be found in the Toolkit validation Section of the website.
Work Package 6 ‘Communication, dissemination and leverage’ (WP6) deals will all communication and dissemination activities for the ARMOUR project.
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Regular newsletters and events’ briefs will be uploaded in the Media Section as well.
All public project deliverables under each work package will be published in the Deliverables Section.