Witness of History

Since 2001, Women without Borders (WwB) has been putting research into practice through community-based strategies that combine theory and grassroots-level fieldwork. WwB has completed over 80 projects across 40 countries, focusing on PVE, gender-based violence (GBV), Female Leadership, Capacity Building, and Empowering Dialogue.

Responding to the threat of radicalisation by sensitising women to their roles and responsibilities in building community resilience, WwB initiated the world’s first female PVE platform in 2008: the Sisters Against Violent Extremism network. WwB pioneered and continues to lead the effort of harnessing the potential of Mothers Preventing Violent Extremism (MPVE) through its MotherSchools Model.

Type of Organisation: NGO

Terrorist recruiters are successful because their ideologies and actions resonate with youth when they are most vulnerable. At a time with they question the unfairness of the world, or feel alone, unheard or persecuted. SAVE’s ‘Witness of History’ enlightens youth during their formative years to the reality of violent extremist ideologies and alternatives to revenge.

Raw, honest testimony and up close and personal storytelling is able to reach a youth audience better than any official speech or abstract analysis. As victims and survivors, they speak from a position of authenticity, moral authority, and with personal conviction. The Witness of History films give a human face to the tragic terrorist attacks and create a potent balance to the extremist propaganda.

The personal stories of victims – particularly those who have made a personal journey – those who have become somehow stronger by the experience of grief and loss, those who do not feel vengeance and have something strong and positive to say – help blur the lines between black and white thinking. They plant a seed of doubt in the thoughts of those who might support violence or lack alternatives. It’s a hearts and minds approach, to develop critical thinking as a deterrent against radicalisation.

A series of dialogue workshops led to the production of short, diverse video testimonies.

Contact person: Edit Schlaffer, Founder and Chair
Telephone: (+43) 699 185 876 99
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