MIA – Girls in Exchange

In 2021 and 2022, Cultures Interactive conducted a needs analysis on issues concerning girls and young women on the subject of youth work and prevention in the context of Islamist radicalization. Based on the findings, the association has been running the MiA project since the beginning of 2023 with the following objectives

Strengthening gender-reflective and girl-specific prevention in Berlin

For individual and group offers, concepts of educational work for girls are developed that address their living environments, experiences of discrimination, needs for religiosity and spirituality, experiences in family and society, gender roles and expectations of their own future. Individual and group training sessions can be offered in Berlin. The services are offered on an outreach and needs-based basis in cooperation with youth facilities and schools.

Skills development for Berlin experts on the topic of girls/young women and Islamist radicalization

In June 2023, a two-day training course was held for participants from youth work, general social services and schools, which provided information on gender-specific motives for addiction, girl-specific biographical topics as well as pedagogical approaches and prevention services.

A further two-day training course on the same range of topics is aimed at employees of the police and security authorities. In this context, the consequences of experiences of discrimination against girls who read Muslim will be discussed in greater detail and the constructive assistance that can be provided by the police in order to counteract experiences of social disadvantage and frustration. Finally, experienced discrimination situations and the feeling of not receiving support from the police as Muslims are named as possible factors leading to radical Islamist contexts.

Strengthening networking in the area of girl-oriented and gender-reflective prevention

Regular networking meetings with stakeholders from schools, youth and girls' work, the police and administration should help to promote awareness of this phenomenon throughout Berlin and support the promotion and further development of needs-based and girl-oriented prevention services.