MINDb4ACT: Summary of radicalization pilot training

The Polish Platform for Homeland Security mutual with the Marshal’s Office of the Wielkopolska Region and the Teacher Training Center in Poznan organized two pilot training in preventing radicalization, which took place on 9-10/09/2019 in Poznan.

The trainings were organized as part of the research and development project MINDb4ACT and the local initiative Threats Observatory for Young People (www.obserwatorium.wlkp.pl/en). Each day of training was directed to a different group of participants. The first day (9/09) was attended by representatives of local institutions such as the Marshal’s Office, Voivodship Office, Poznan City Council, Poznan County, Police, Prison Service, The Educational Board in Poznan, Municipal Family Assistance Center and Regional Center of Social Policy in Poznan, and others. The second day (10/09) was attended by representatives of education, primarily teachers, psychologists and pedagogues from Wielkopolska’s schools.

In total, approximately 40 people attended the meetings. The trainings took the form of a practical workshop during which participants were involved in the discussion from the beginning of the meeting, they had the opportunity to exchange experiences, share their insights, as well as work in groups on a selected case study.

Participants of the trainings noticed that in times of rapid spread of the phenomenon of radicalization, taking up this topic, learning the mechanism and methods of prevention is extremely important, and space for interdisciplinary discussion is necessary. Many times, the participants emphasized that the composition of the groups participating in the meeting was advantage, as it allowed for discussion considering various aspects of the phenomenon. In addition, the participants emphasized the competences and experience of the lecturers – Dr Marzena Kordaczuk-Was, who has reach experience in counteracting radicalization and is an PPHS’s expert in this area, and attorney at law Jakub Horn, who presented the legal aspects of hate speech.

The MINDb4ACT project is funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Framework Program. The trainings were one of 17 planned pilot projects that are planned under the project and address the issue of preventing radicalization in various thematic areas. The PPHS’s pilot project concerned the area of “Local Initiatives”.