Leaving the past behind: Building resilience to violent extremism through support and education

Project title: Leaving the past behind: Building resilience to violent extremism through support and education
Duration of the project: July 2023 - September 2024
Donor: The program is funded by GCERF and implemented by the Counseling Line for Women and Girls which leads a national consortium of NGOs in cooperation with IRCA, GADC, Helsinki Committee, and IAS.
Overall objective: The objective of the programme is to change violent extremist views and behaviours of returning foreign terrorist fighters and their families, through disengagement and deradicalization, while providing a comprehensive support structure to enable reintegration into society and building of alternative narratives.
The target groups:
- Men, women and children who have returned from Syria and Iraq.
- Family members of RFTFs.
The programme targets the following municipalities: Cerrik, Bulqize, Librazhd, Elbasan, Pogradec, Tirane, Vlore and Shkoder. These municipalities were selected because: 1) most RFTFs are concentrated in these municipalities and 2) studies have shown a higher level of religious tensions where work on de-radicalization has been primarily focused by different actors.

The program is implemented in collaboration with the Counseling Line for Women and Girls (CLWG) and the Center Against Violent Extremism (CVE), with the support of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).

Key Achievements of the Project 
Empowerment and Economic Reintegration
- Over 70 workshops and hands-on training sessions conducted with women returnees from conflict zones and marginalized groups.
- Participants trained in traditional crafts and artisan production: natural soap making, macramé, loom weaving, and embroidery.
- Women received starter kits with raw materials to begin home-based production, supporting income generation without relying on social welfare.
- Introduction of a pre-incubation phase, guiding women through the first steps of launching micro-enterprises and selling their products locally.
- Reached over 400,000 people through targeted Facebook and Instagram campaigns, with engaging visuals and awareness messages.
- Conducted public events and exhibitions, sharing the voices and experiences of women who are building new paths outside extremism and violence.

National Event: Celebrating Empowerment
On December 20, 2024, GADC organized a high-level public event titled "Handicrafts: A Road Towards Women’s Economic Empowerment." Showcased artisanal products created during the project; Held a certificate ceremony for all program participants; Organized a jury selection to honor the best artisanal work; Promoted networking among CSOs, institutions, and participants. Click here for more information 

Collaboration and Sustainability
Maintained ongoing partnerships with: CVE Albania, CLWG, Tirana Municipality, and local service providers. Regional and national actors working in PVE, gender equality, and reintegration. Contributed to longer-term sustainability by linking participants with local economic and social support structures.

Highlights from Our National Event – “Handicrafts: A Road Towards Empowerment"