On 13-14 December 2022, CONNEKT organised the Cross-Regional Youth Forum on violent extremism in Skopje, North Macedonia. Hosted by the Islamic Youth Forum (IYF), the gathering addressed the role of youth within the frame of violent extremism and through an innovative dynamic methodology engaging youth in the creation of prevention measures. All the members of the Consortium met with 16 young people (two per country studied) so that the views of youth in the field of prevention are promoted.

This two-day meeting aimed to provide a conceptual approach to radicalisation and violent extremism and to explore the participants’ own understanding of the topic in relation of their social contexts. Moreover, it wanted to focus on youngsters’ understanding of prevention, inciting them to reflect on potential ways to make their communities more resilient and supportive and encouraging them to identify preventive measures, strategies, and policies in their countries/territories. The objectives of the Forum were twofold: on the one hand the pilot prevention interventions that will be designed cooperatively among the young participants and that could plant a seed of the future Prevention Toolkits; on the other, the final session will provide a platform for young participants to convey messages and to amplify their voices as actors of prevention.

The forum counted with the attendance of more than 50 participants, including experts, youth representatives, researchers and civil society representatives, and it concluded with the first in-person Project Committee held since the kick-off of the project.