- Country
- Belgium
- Target Audience
- Educators/academics
- First responders or practitioners
- Youth/pupils/students
- key themes association
- (Early) prevention
- Alternative and counter narratives
- Multi-agency cooperation
- Year
- 2023
Project description
The CCA-Method is a co-developed strategic communication methodology used in situations where young people are influenced by narratives that are potential threats to our shared democratic values.
The following three narratives are used consecutively:
- Connective Narrative – a story with the focus on shared values and connecting with students and pupils for the first time. This is reflected in the focus on a strong sense of belonging through a connective school climate and shared values. Teachers are trained to develop their connective communication skills to students through training sessions. (see RAN Collection – Identity & Communication).
- Counter Narrative – to counter a substantive problematic (radical) standpoint via a contextual and/or historical analysis based on the Socratic methodology.
- Alternative Narrative – Alternative pathways provided by:
- strong participation of students themselves in student councils, civic activities, and art projects at school. (see also RAN Collection – Athena-syntax, https://athenasyntax.org);
- Alternative historical, political, economic and/or religious readings on the subject at hand by experts.
The GO! Atheneum of Antwerp developed this strategy in collaboration with Ceapire, a Centre of Expertise, in the area of intervention and prevention of radicalisation and extremism. Ceapire is made up of theologists, psychologists and a range of other experienced experts in the field, whom the school collaborates with to connect with their students, and the communities these students belong to.
This strategy has been disseminated among the different GO! (public Flemish education system) schools in Flanders.
September 2023
This project was developed during the period of problematic Islamic radicalisation and in follow-up to the war in Syria and departing youth. Today, however, we live in a hyperpolarised society and polarisation and radicalisation have become a many-headed monster: in addition to proselytising Islamist Salafism, we notice extreme right-wing extremism, the woke debate that is fierce in our schools, LGBTQ thinking, anti-women thinking, climate activists, etc.
Precisely because of this recent evolution, the training offer has been updated and this good practice is integrated into a general basic training 'prevention of radicalisation and polarisation'. Here, we examine how radical thinking comes about, when it is problematic and when we speak of extremism. We reflect on the different forms that exist and what the associated characteristics are.
We also look at the challenges this poses in practice and provide information on how front-line workers, local authorities, teachers, youth workers, welfare workers, etc. can deal with these challenges. This model is integrated into this training.
A new training offer will be rolled out within all GO! schools. In the previous school year 2022-2023, tailor-made formations were provided. During this school year 2023- 2024, the key persons who were activated in 2015 will be reactivated.
Deliverables
EUROGUIDE (Flemish version)
Book: ‘Mijn Kleine Jihad’ by Karin Heremans, Houtekiet 2017.