Deadline: June 30, 2019
Are you engaged in preventing violent extremism? Do you have experience in and/or want to learn more about building social cohesion through interfaith dialogue? Are you excited about exchanging ideas with like-minded young people from all over the world? Apply to the 3rd Intercontinental Youth Forum of iDove – Interfaith Dialogue on Violent Extremism taking place from 18-20 September 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The iDove initiative was jointly launched by the African Union Commission’s Directorate of Citizens and Diaspora Organizations (AUC-CIDO) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in February 2017 to highlight the importance of the soft power of religion in preventing violent extremism (PVE) through innovative, youth-led approaches. By building on existing initiatives and supporting young people’s engagement and ideas in both Europe and Africa, iDove strives to develop non-violent approaches to problem solving that strengthen social cohesion and to create a forum for exchange and mutual learning.
The annual iDove Intercontinental Youth Forums provide a valuable platform for young activists, academics, creatives & policy makers from all over Africa and Europe to share experiences, ideas and knowledge on constructive strategies to prevent violent extremism.
The Third Intercontinental Youth Forum will focus on the current challenge of rehabilitating and reintegrating (R&R) foreign fighters and other returnees. Taking returnees into account when designing PVE strategies has become more and more pressing in recent years as thousands of foreign fighters have been relocating to their home communities. Foreign fighters are strongly exposed to violent extremist ideologies, with many having witnessed or actively participated in acts of violence. Some may be highly traumatized and in need of medical assistance. Others might be family members of foreign fighters or children born in war-zones. Whether actively involved in fighting and violence or not, all returnees will require assistance in addressing the drivers that led to their involvement with violent extremism as well as in (again) assuming productive roles in society.
Benefits
- Become part of the iDove network of young PVE activists, creatives, policy makers & academics from all over Africa & Europe
- Increase your knowledge on soft power approaches to PVE – in particular those involving interfaith dialogue
- Gain valuable insights for your own work by exploring the communalities and differences in PVE between different world regions
- Learn more about R&R of foreign fighters and other returnees from our invited experts & distinguished speakers
- Further develop your skills on project management and how to successfully pitch your project idea
Eligibility
- You are between 18 and 35 years old
- You are a citizen or resident of a European or an African country
- You have proven experience in PVE and building social cohesion, ideally the context of rehabilitation & reintegration of returnees
- You are committed to and/or experienced in interfaith dialogue and collaboration
- You are fluent in either English or French
Application
- Please fill out the questionnaire in the “apply” link below
- Attach your CV and any supporting documents for your application.
- The deadline for applications is EAT midnight June 30, 2019.
For more information, visit iDove Forum
