Zahlreiche zivilgesellschaftliche Akteur*innen erleben in ihrer Arbeit wachsenden Gegenwind: Desinformation, Verschwörungsmythen und populistische bis menschenverachtende Positionen bedrohen zunehmend demokratisches Engagement – sowohl online als auch offline.
Distanz e.V. bringt langjährige Erfahrung in der Distanzierungsarbeit sowie in politischer und medienpädagogischer Bildung mit. Mit Konsens Konstruktiv machen wir erprobte Strategien, Tools und Best-Practice-Ansätze für andere zivilgesellschaftliche Akteur*innen zugänglich – für die Arbeit mit Gruppen bis hin zur Kampagnenführung
Zielgruppe
Die Fortbildungsangebote richten sich vor allem an Multiplikator*innen aus:
Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE)
Umwelt- und Klimakommunikation
politischer und medienpädagogischer Bildung
Digital-Streetwork, Community Management und verwandten Bereichen
Ziele des Projekts
Entwicklung von Handlungssicherheit im Umgang mit populistisch-extremistischen Phänomenen durch effektive Kommunikationsstrategien und praxisbezogene Szenarioplanung
Erhöhung der Wirksamkeit eigener Maßnahmen durch vorausschauende Prävention und gezielte Intervention
Förderung eines konstruktiven Diskursklimas
Angebote
Fortbildungen: Bundesweit als vor Ort Tagesworkshops oder auch Online-Kurzimpuls-Reihe.
Vertiefung durch Beratung: Interessierte Organisationen können eine 3- bis 6-monatige Begleitung in Anspruch nehmen.
Intervening Competently Within (Vocational School) Teams: How can vocational schools or youth institutions respond professionally to far-right attitudes and forms of group-focused hostility? The KI(B)T project strengthens educational professionals in their daily work – in a practical, long-term, and sustainable way – to effectively address these challenges.
Project Formats
KI(B)T supports educators in developing a confident and reflective approach when working with young people who are vulnerable to or already oriented toward far-right entry pathways. The measures promote both individual action competence and institutional change.
1. Intensive Coaching: Long-Term Team Support
Through intensive coaching, Distanz e. V. supports vocational schools for up to one year. In interdisciplinary teams consisting of teachers, school leadership, and school social workers:
Challenges and resources are jointly analyzed
Institution-specific goals are formulated
Appropriate measures are implemented and reflected upon
Goals of Intensive Coaching
Development of long-term action strategies in response to far-right tendencies
Strengthening team competence and professional confidence in everyday practice
2. Flex-C: Short Format with Sustainable Impact
The new coaching format Flex-C is a shorter support format for educators, running parallel to preventive workshops for young people within the same institution. These workshops focus on youth culture, political-historical education, and experiential learning approaches.
Goals of Flex-C
Initial analysis of challenges and resources
Development of first steps toward a competent response to far-right tendencies
Sustainable integration of preventive workshop content
3. Further Training: Intervention Program in a radicalisation process as a Cross-Cutting Task
Intervention Program in a radicalisation process belongs at the core and across the full spectrum of social work practice. In practical training sessions, participants learn conversation and intervention methods for both short- and long-term application.
Goals of the Further Training Programs
Strengthening confidence in dealing with group-focused hostility and far-right orientations
Transfer of content into everyday educational practice
Anchoring the Intervention Program in a radicalisation process across various fields of action
4. Preventive Workshops: Learning in a Life-World Context
The workshops for students use life-world-oriented approaches rooted in youth culture, political-historical education, and experiential learning. They address personal experiences, social developments, and foster critical thinking.
With Transform, Distanz e. V. is reshaping the Intervention Program in a radicalisation process nationwide. We contribute our many years of experience to further develop concepts and structures in this field of work. The goal is to find new and effective ways to support young people in distancing themselves from far-right attitudes and groups – closely connected to their everyday lives.
What is Transform?
Transform – Intervention Program in a radicalisation process to overcome distance from democratic values and to prevent entry into right-wing extremism is an innovation project being piloted in four model regions in Thuringia.
The approaches and methods developed are designed for nationwide impact and for the qualification of professionals. The focus lies on new formats, target groups, methods, and forms of cooperation.
Project Focus Areas
Trainer Tandem – Anchoring the Intervention Program in a radicalisation process Locally
Experienced trainers from Distanz e. V. work in tandems with local professionals – for example from schools, youth welfare services, or probation services. Together, they conduct Deradicalisation Trainings and establish a foundation that enables these professionals to independently carry out Intervention Programs in a radicalisation process in the future.
Advisory Institution Youth Welfare Office – Practical Support
Distanz e. V. becomes a permanent point of contact for youth welfare offices. Our advisors support staff in assessing risks of radicalisation – for example during care planning meetings – thereby strengthening professional confidence in working with young people at risk.
Expanded Target Group – Reaching Young People in Transitional Phases
We deliberately expand the target group to include children from the age of 10 as well as young adults up to 27 years. Life transitions are particularly vulnerable phases for radicalisation. We adapt the formats of the Intervention Program in a radicalisation process to be age-appropriate and make them accessible to new target groups.
Distancing Through Play – Gamification as a Method
Playful elements make complex topics tangible. By integrating gamification into our methods, we create new pathways for reflection – especially for younger participants. This approach promotes insight and change in creative and intuitive ways while strengthening motivation.
Online Meets Offline – Hybrid Intervention Program in a radicalisation process
Young people move in both digital and analog spaces. Transform develops methods that connect these two worlds. Content from online work flows into offline trainings – and vice versa. The results are shared nationwide with educational and civil society actors.
Professionally Supported – The Science-Practice Advisory Board
An interdisciplinary advisory board provides critical and consultative support to the project. The focus lies particularly on developing lifeworld-oriented methods and on specifically reaching female addressees.
The ZfD is the central advisory institution in Thuringia for the field of Intervention Program in a radicalisation process. It supports professionals working with young people who show signs of group-focused hostility or early far-right tendencies. The aim is to intervene at an early stage – before dehumanising attitudes become entrenched.
Target Group
The advisory service is aimed at:
Educators across all fields of youth work and schools
Staff from youth welfare offices
Other multipliers within the educational sector
Approach
The Intervention Program in a radicalisation process bridges the gap between preventive democracy education and traditional exit work.
Low-threshold and straightforward
Timely
Tailored / individualised
Resource-oriented
Networked and fostering networks
Prioritised according to needs based on clear criteria, including rural risk situations, lack of resources, and threat scenarios
ZfD Formats
Counselling and Coaching
Initial contact can be made by phone or email and, if desired, anonymously. In the next step, a joint needs assessment takes place, during which the staff of Distanz e. V., together with those involved, analyse the individual situation. Based on this, a tailored and individualised support plan is developed in line with the specific needs identified. The further counselling process includes case-related strategies and may, if required, transition into coaching or a Deradicalisation Training. In addition, a multi-professional networking approach ensures that relevant professionals from the young person’s environment are involved in the process.
Peer Case Consultation
The focus is on the joint analysis of complex cases, incorporating scene-specific knowledge. On this basis, concrete strategies for action are developed and strategically planned within the team. Upon request, this process can be supplemented by integration into a further Deradicalisation Training.
Modular Training Programmes
The ZfD offers topic-specific training programmes using a modular system. These trainings are aimed at both individuals and teams and are designed to be resource-oriented, needs-based, individualised, and flexible in terms of scheduling.
Deradicalisation Training
The ZfD supports young people aged 10 to 27 in individual and group trainings to help them distance themselves from hostile and violence-supporting attitudes. Using systemic, solution-focused, and reflective methods, impulses for distancing are encouraged. The work is both critically confrontational and relationship-strengthening, with the participants’ goals at the centre. Through youth cultural, media-related, and historical interests, connections to the young people’s lifeworlds are created, and their sense of self-efficacy is strengthened.
Das Perspektiv-Training stärkt den positiven Blick junger Menschen auf ihr Leben. Gemeinsam erarbeiten wir Wege aus der Gewaltspirale, reflektieren soziales Verhalten und fördern eine straffreie Perspektive.
Zielgruppe
Junge Menschen im Alter von 10 bis 27 Jahre
Junge Menschen jeden Geschlechts, mit und ohne Behinderung
Milieuübergreifend und herkunftsunabhängig
Teilnehmende mit Multiproblemlagen (z.B. Suchterfahrungen, familiäre Gewalt)
Ziele des Perspektivtrainings
1. Zukunftsperspektiven entwickeln
Junge Menschen werden ermutigt, ihre Lebensperspektiven bewusst und gewaltfrei zu gestalten. Im Mittelpunkt steht die Förderung individueller Wege, die ein selbstbestimmtes und konstruktives Leben ermöglichen. Dazu gehört sowohl die Unterstützung bei der Planung einer gewaltfreien Zukunft als auch die Anregung zu einer sinnvollen Freizeitgestaltung – insbesondere im jugendkulturellen Bereich. Ergänzt wird dies durch Orientierungshilfen, die die persönliche Entwicklung stärken und dabei helfen, eigene Potenziale zu erkennen und neue Lebenswege zu eröffnen.
2. Selbstreflexion fördern
Ziel ist es, die eigene Lebensgestaltung bewusst zu reflektieren und die Hintergründe des eigenen Verhaltens besser zu verstehen. Durch die intensive Auseinandersetzung mit persönlichen Erfahrungen und Einstellungen werden Denkprozesse angeregt, die zu einem tieferen Selbstverständnis führen. Anregende Fragen unterstützen dabei, eingefahrene Denkmuster zu hinterfragen und neue Perspektiven zu entwickeln. So wird ein selbstbewusster und verantwortungsvoller Umgang mit der eigenen Handlungsfähigkeit gefördert.
3. Konfliktfähigkeit stärken
Konfliktfähigkeit stärken bedeutet, eigene Gewaltmuster zu erkennen und alternative, gewaltfreie Handlungsweisen zu entwickeln. Dabei steht die Reflexion des eigenen Verhaltens ebenso im Mittelpunkt wie das kritische Hinterfragen gewaltfördernder Einstellungen. Durch die Entwicklung konstruktiver Konfliktlösungsstrategien und die gezielte Förderung sozialer Kompetenzen werden Selbstbewusstsein und Resilienz gegenüber Gruppendruck gestärkt. So wird eine eigenverantwortliche Lebensführung auch unter benachteiligenden Bedingungen ermöglicht.
Methoden
Lebensweltorientierte Ansätze: Nutzung jugendkultureller Methoden zur Förderung von Beteiligung und Niedrigschwelligkeit.
Konfliktfähigkeit stärken: Reflexion bestehender Konfliktlösungsstrategien und Entwicklung alternativer Verhaltensweisen.
Persönlichkeitsentwicklung: Förderung von Resilienz, Selbstbewusstsein, Widerspruchs- und Frustrationstoleranz.
Zukunftsperspektiven: Konstruktive Ideen entwickeln, um Gewalt abzubauen.
Sie möchten mehr über das Perspektivtraining erfahren? Schreiben Sie uns gerne eine Mail an mail@distanz.info
The coaching programme offers tailored support for challenges in the Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process. It helps to develop or improve strategies and practical skills for dealing with widespread patterns of devaluation within an organisation. The aim is to strengthen the confidence and capacity to act of individual professionals and to further develop the organisation as a whole in its prevention and intervention work against far-right phenomena.
Formats and Process
The focus of the coaching determines the format.
Short Coaching
In short coaching, the organisation receives an overview of the challenges and needs the team faces when dealing with devaluation, discrimination and far-right attitudes. This is achieved through a needs assessment survey within the team, which is designed by Distanz e.V. Based on the results, Distanz e.V. provides recommendations on how the identified needs could be addressed. Follow-up measures, such as training courses, are jointly decided upon with a focus on available resources.
Intensive Coaching
In intensive coaching, Distanz e.V. supports a small group of professionals over several sessions on specific issues. Based on an analysis of needs and initial conditions, the group develops goals for the team and the organisation. Distanz e.V. accompanies, advises and supports this change process. The entire team of the organisation is regularly involved and informed about the content.
Case Coaching
In case coaching, the focus is on one or more concrete cases involving young people who are at risk of entering far-right extremism and who pose challenges for the organisation. Over several sessions, the professionals involved are supported and advised by Distanz e.V. through joint case analysis and practical recommendations for their educational work with the young person.
Methodology
The coaching is needs-based and solution-oriented. The analysis of the initial situation determines the next steps. The process is participation-oriented and strengthens professionals in their personal responsibility. With a resource-oriented approach, the coaching builds on existing strengths and expands them with the expertise of Distanz e.V.
Distanz e. V. works with young people aged 12 and above where they are – in schools, youth clubs, or at festivals. Using life-world-oriented methods and media education approaches, we promote self-efficacy and encourage reflection on exclusion. Participatory formats and the do-it-yourself approach are at the core of our work.
Methods and Approaches
Life-world orientation: Focus on the experiences and topics relevant to young people.
Youth cultural and media education: Promotion of self-reflection and self-efficacy through creative engagement with contemporary, historical, and political topics.
Diverse team: Political (historical) educators, pedagogues, and youth culture and media experts work collaboratively.
Participation: The workshops rely on active involvement and exploratory work throughout the process.
The do-it-yourself approach strengthens young people’s empowerment
Objectives
Strengthening self-efficacy: Using elements of youth culture to support personal development.
Reflection on exclusion: Personal experiences of exclusion, as well as exclusion enacted by the participants themselves, are critically reflected upon.
Addressing life-world topics: Through participation in shaping the content, issues that represent real-life challenges for participants are discussed.
Further training for professionals: Accompanying training sessions ensure long-term quality.
Sustainable follow-up work: Confidential reports and follow-up reflection processes support the institutions.
Where do workshops take place?
Schools (all types of schools)
Youth clubs
(Partially) residential facilities
Public spaces and festivals
Would you like to learn more about the CAP project or request workshops? Please feel free to contact us by email at: mail@distanz.info
Distanz e.V. offers low-threshold counselling for multipliers. The focus is on the question of how to work with young people who show far-right orientations or are at risk of entering extremist structures—for example in relationship-building, in setting impulses for Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process in response to dehumanising attitudes, or in referring them to appropriate support structures.
Counselling Process
1. Initial contact:
Those seeking counselling usually get in touch by phone or email.
2. Needs assessment:
Together with the staff of Distanz e.V., the specific needs are clarified.
An individual offer is then developed.
3. Counselling formats
Individual consultations: by phone, video or in person
Longer-term counselling: virtual or on site
Team counselling: collegial case consultations for several participants
The services are individually tailored to needs and provide both short-term support and longer-term guidance.
Target Groups
Educational professionals from youth and family services, youth court and probation services, and schools
Civil society actors and multipliers
Counselling Approach
A key focus of the counselling is empowerment—that is, strengthening the ability to act independently when dealing with cases related to Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process. Where needed, we offer long-term support, for example in the form of coaching. In addition, we rely on cooperative networking with local and supra-regional actors in order to link prevention and intervention and activate further support systems.
Distanz e.V. offers topic-specific training programmes based on a modular system. The trainings are aimed at both individuals and teams and can be individually tailored to specific needs. The duration of the training is determined by individual agreement and the respective requirements.
Core Modules
The training programmes are based on three central modules:
Module 1 – Perception
Early detection of far-right entry processes
Objectives:
Learn to recognise early signs of far-right orientation and how to classify them
Reflection and exchange on one’s own perceptions
Content:
Motives for turning towards extremism: Why do young people feel attracted to far-right positions?
Risk factors: Which factors and circumstances put young people at risk?
Examination of underlying attitudes within right-wing extremism
Recognising far-right symbols, codes and signs and learning how to deal with them
Practical application: Using insights in everyday professional practice
Module 2 – Intervention
Intervening in cases of dehumanising statements or incidents
Educational professionals are often faced with the challenge of how to respond to far-right or dehumanising statements without endangering their relationship with young people. Module 2 supports you in intervening appropriately to the situation without straining the pedagogical relationship—through reflection, confidence in action and concrete communication techniques.
Ziele:
Learn to adapt interventions to specific situations, contexts and goals
Strengthen confidence in action without burdening the relationship level
Reflect on obstacles that hinder professional pedagogical practice
Content:
Reflection on personal attitudes: How do you assess your own stance on discrimination?
Discrimination and group-focused enmity: Forms and causes; strategies for recognition and prevention
Situation-appropriate intervention: Situation analysis and planning of intervention steps
Communication techniques: Approaches, techniques and strategies for guiding conversations and responding appropriately to apparent arguments
Practical examples: Discussion, reflection and practice using cases from participants’ everyday professional work
Module 3 – Strategy Planning
Developing sustainable concepts against group-focused enmity
Individual interventions can be effective. However, sustainable change primarily emerges through a strategically coordinated approach at the organisational level. Module 3 supports you in developing a shared team ethos and systematically shaping structures and processes for effective prevention and intervention.
Objectives:
Convey a systematic approach to analysing the initial situation within your organisation
Develop initial strategic approaches for sustainable prevention and intervention
Promote teamwork through coordinated principles for action
Content:
Introduction to a practical analysis tool for taking stock: What is the current state of attitudes, structures and processes in your organisation or team?
Resource analysis: Where are strengths, and where are gaps in dealing with dehumanising attitudes?
Strategic goals and measures: How can an organisation or team act effectively and sustainably against group-focused enmity?
Requirement of neutrality: What does it mean? What may be said? How can professionals deal with accusations of lacking neutrality?
Practical application: Working with concrete case examples
Thematic Modules
In addition to and independently of the core modules, further modules can be flexibly combined and requested:
Youth cultural education: Using youth cultural elements for prevention and analysing far-right instrumentalisation
Online life worlds: Examination of far-right and dehumanising online phenomena
Gender: Critical analysis of gender-specific norms and roles and their function within dehumanising far-right ideologies and groups
Identity- and values-related media content: Critical engagement with media and disinformation
Conspiracy narratives: Recognising conspiracy-ideological narratives and understanding their modes of impact
Online Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process
To respond to the growing challenges of online radicalisation, Distanz e.V. has developed the training programme “Was los im Feed?”. The training provides confidence in action when dealing with dehumanising and far-right communication on social media. The programme is situated within Online Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process (ODA), which encompasses pedagogical approaches to the prevention, assessment and handling of radicalisation processes in digital spaces. Learn more and register here.
Distanz e.V. supports young people in individual and group Deradicalisation Trainings, helping them to distance themselves from dehumanising and violence-affirming attitudes. By drawing on youth cultural, media-related and historical interests, access points to young people’s life worlds are created and their sense of self-efficacy is strengthened. The Deradicalisation Training is an intensive educational measure that lasts on average one year and focuses on supporting young people in shaping a constructive future.
Goals of the Deradicalisation Training
Distancing from dehumanisation
Reflection on dehumanising attitudes
Addressing discriminatory views
Development of human-rights-oriented perspectives
Reduction of violence
Raising awareness of the consequences of all forms of violence
Development of non-violent conflict resolution strategies
Self-worth and reflection
Promoting empathy and perspective-taking
Strengthening self-reflection and tolerance of ambiguity
Meaningful life perspectives
Support in future planning and leisure activities
Development of alternative life concepts beyond dehumanising ideologies
Implementation
The training is designed to be outreach-based and flexible in order to reach young people in their life worlds with low barriers. Through cooperation with schools of all types, youth welfare offices and institutions of youth (social) work and independent youth services, a relationship-oriented approach is achieved. For each case, individual engagement strategies are discussed with the professionals involved. Within the ongoing process and in compliance with data protection regulations, they are involved in the outcomes of the trainings.
Training Methodology – the BRAKE Approach
B (Relationship): Within the Deradicalisation Trainings, we aim to establish an educational relationship with the participants. A stable pedagogical relationship is the foundation of every training and the basis for intervention. Only within a trusting relationship will participants open up and reflect on criticism.
R (Reflection): The aim is to stimulate reflection processes among participants. They are encouraged to critically question themselves, gain insights and pursue new self-defined goals. This approach makes a significant contribution to distancing from deeply rooted dehumanising attitudes.
A (Outreach): The outreach aspect is of particular importance and shapes our work throughout the entire process. Our basic approach is not to provide an offer that can simply be taken up, but to actively approach potential participants. This means that the work does not begin with a motivation to distance oneself; instead, attitudes are problematised from the outside. This requires close cooperation with sensitised professionals in the everyday lives of young people at risk of entry.
K (Critique): Clear criticism of ideological fragments, generalisations and prejudices is also necessary. This criticism does not call the relationship into question; in some cases, it can even strengthen it. It may also meet young participants’ need for friction and spark curiosity about a new perspective on an issue. Through a critical stance, the relationship level is consciously used to convey that certain personal qualities are valued, while specific political attitudes are problematised and/or rejected.
E (Development): Over the course of the training, a developmental process is initiated among participants that aims to prevent further far-right socialisation and, ideally, open up new perspectives for respectful coexistence. Processes of distancing are ultimately to be understood as transformational processes of identity formation. This includes a view of humanity that grants everyone the possibility to change. We actively seek to shape this transformation process through the outreach-based BRAKE approach.
Insight into Our Deradicalisation Trainings
Practical example from a youth club
A young woman repeatedly attracts attention through comments that insult and demean young people with a history of forced migration. The youth club staff have already held many conversations with her, but so far the interventions have had little effect. The team discusses whether the young woman can continue to be tolerated in the club’s premises. On the one hand, all young people should feel safe and welcome in the club; on the other hand, the staff fear the potential consequences for her development if she is forced to look for other places to spend her time. The team would like to make an offer and therefore contacts Distanz e.V. Together, a concrete and individual engagement strategy is discussed. While Distanz e.V. organises a space outside the club to implement the training, the staff approach the young woman. They are transparent in explaining that a ban from the premises due to her racist remarks is being considered, but that they would prefer to offer support instead. She is asked to attend an initial meeting with the trainers from Distanz e.V. together with a staff member from the youth club. At this first meeting, the staff member explains the reason for the training and then leaves after the training has been introduced. In the initial session, the trainers from Distanz e.V. focus as much as possible on the young woman’s perspective, her interests, hobbies and everyday challenges. Through a respectful and life-world-oriented approach, the trainers are comparatively often able to motivate young people to participate voluntarily in the training.
Thanks to their experience in working with young people who are at risk of or oriented towards far-right extremism, the trainers from Distanz e.V. relieve the youth club team. They are able to offer the young woman appropriate support and also assist the youth club team in the sustainable development of the organisation.
