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Distanz e.V.
Distanz – Distanzierungsarbeit, jugendkulturelle Bildung und Beratung – e.V. was founded in 2019 in Weimar and has been the responsible organisation for the Centre for Intervention Programms in a radicalisation processes in Thuringia since 2020. The non-profit association is a state-recognised provider of youth welfare services in accordance with Section 75 of Book VIII of the German Social Code (SGB VIII) and operates nationwide, with a particular focus on right-wing extremism and group-focused enmity. Its aim is to support young people in distancing themselves from far-right and dehumanising attitudes.
Expertise and Methods
The team at Distanz e.V. has extensive experience in outreach Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process. This work incorporates a wide range of educational approaches, including social, political, media education and youth cultural education, as well as systemic, solution-oriented, biographical and gender-reflective methods. This expertise is passed on to multipliers through consultations, coaching sessions and professional training programmes.
Networking and Cooperation
Distanz e.V. cooperates at state, national and European levels with stakeholders from youth welfare and youth work, prevention and exit programmes, as well as with actors in the field of political education. The aim is to establish systematic networking to strengthen resilience against hostility towards groups, distance from democratic values and right-wing extremism.
In its day-to-day counselling work, Distanz e.V. collaborates with educators through regional networks involving a wide range of local statutory structures, such as youth welfare offices, schools and youth welfare institutions, extending to Europe-wide cooperation within the EU Knowledge Hub. In this way, the organisation connects local action with transnational exchange.
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Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process
Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process starts at the point where young people attract attention through demeaning prejudices, dehumanising statements, symbols or actions. The aim is to prevent an early turn towards far-right worldviews—before a closed far-right ideology or a firmly established affiliation with an extremist scene can develop.
Processes of turning towards extremist ideologies develop in very different phases, which is why the target groups of the Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process can be described as being at risk of, and oriented towards, the far right. What unites this target group is that the individuals are not yet firmly embedded in an extreme right-wing scene, but may already be orienting themselves towards it.
In line with an understanding of the Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process as a cross-cutting educational task, the experience gained in this field of practice is systematically multiplied: through the professional development of practitioners via targeted training programmes, as well as through accompanying counselling and coaching formats. Practitioners particularly value the low-threshold offers tailored to everyday needs, as well as the rapid initiation of Deradicalisation Trainings.
Why is an Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process necessary?
Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process belongs in the broad field and as a cross-cutting component of social work.
Hostile attitudes and actions towards groups have increased noticeably in recent years—often also outside of organised scenes. Populist discourses are shifting socially and democratically legitimised norms, and young people in particular are increasingly adopting demeaning attitudes. It is therefore important to engage in early dialogue about dehumanising and anti-democratic patterns of attitudes. In this way, those affected can be protected from further devaluation, while radicalisation and a potential entry into far-right structures can be prevented.
Methodical approach
Distanz e.V. works in an outreach, life-world-oriented and youth-cultural manner—both online and offline. The aim is to offer meaningful alternatives to dehumanising attitudes through low-threshold engagement and to encourage processes of reflection. The services are open to all social milieus, and all genders are deliberately taken into account.
To assess potential radicalisation, Distanz e.V. uses a differentiated model of susceptibility to entry, which provides orientation based on concrete attitudes and behaviours.Find out more about the Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process and stages of radicalisation in the Publications section.
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announcements
Current calls for applications and announcements on projects, positions and events in the field of the Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process
Become part of the freelance team
We are looking for facilitators for measures within the Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process, with a focus on political, historical and youth cultural education. Distanz e.V. implements these measures in the form of short-term educational workshops at schools and youth clubs.
Further information
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Our Mission Statement
The following mission statement was developed through a participatory process involving employees, association members and the executive board of Distanz e.V. On the one hand, we are committed to living these values within the team and the organisation. On the other hand, the mission statement serves as a guide for our actions in shaping all external communication, particularly in the design of measures and cooperation partnerships.
For good work, it is important that all employees enjoy working at Distanz e.V. and experience it as a meaningful shared activity that allows for personal development and recognises individual differences. Solidarity within the team is reflected in the recognition of individual life situations and needs, which are taken into account when shaping everyday work, as well as in addressing conflicts constructively as a team.
The foundation of our work and our motivation for action within the Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process and beyond is our orientation towards the Charter of Human Rights. These values are not outlined in detail below, but they overlap in many ways with the ten core values of Distanz e.V.
A society in which all people can feel comfortable must be guided by children’s rights, youth rights and human rights. Through our work, we contribute to the well-being of society. Our goal is to make social coexistence less discriminatory. In the long term, we aim to deprive far-right groups of new recruits and to strengthen the self-efficacy of young people away from devaluation and violence. Recognition and appreciation guide our actions—internally within our team and externally in our work with young people, professionals and institutions.
The following values are of equal importance and complement one another.
Innovation
Thinking ahead innovatively
We see ourselves as a learning and creative non-profit organisation guided by established standards of social work as well as political and cultural education. In the practical design of our services, we apply a careful combination of professional expertise and action-oriented approaches.
Responsibility
Acting responsibly
We aim to engage patiently with processes and to carry out our work conscientiously. In doing so, we pay attention to the resources and limits of everyone involved and carefully consider the various consequences of our decisions. This enables us to support people responsibly and purposefully in sustainably mastering their challenges independently.
Professionalism
Reflecting professionalism
We critically reflect on our work by discussing and (externally) evaluating our professional standards. We view criticism as a positive impulse for further developing our services, our skills and ourselves. At the core of our professionalism is our clear, human-rights-based stance.
Cooperation
Practising cooperation on equal terms
Our employees regard (pedagogical) professionals as experts in their respective fields and institutions. We strive to continuously develop and share our own expertise in a cooperative manner. By learning from one another, we focus on shared goals and find solutions to challenges in everyday professional practice. In this way, we contribute—within the team and together with others—to the development of our own structures, those of other institutions, and the broader professional discourse.
Participation
Encouraging co-creation
For us, enabling participation in processes requires a high level of transparency, information sharing and assumption of responsibility within clearly defined roles. This makes our values, approaches and practical implementation in each field of action comprehensible and enables participation—both internally and in external measures. In this way, we can involve young people, professionals and cooperation partners in the implementation of our measures in a needs-oriented manner.
Recognition
Strengthening personal responsibility through reflection
For us, reflection means critically questioning oneself and others and consciously examining attitudes and actions. This creates an awareness that enables solution-oriented understanding, while also recognising when limits are reached and understanding for others ends. This forms the basis for responsible, respectful and constructive cooperation both internally and externally.
Awareness
Strengthening personal responsibility through reflection
For us, reflection means critically questioning oneself and others and consciously examining attitudes and actions. This creates an awareness that enables solution-oriented understanding, while also recognising when limits are reached and understanding for others ends. This forms the basis for responsible, respectful and constructive cooperation both internally and externally.
Empathy
Being empathetic
Empathy develops through conscious listening, openness and necessary distance. Taking emotions seriously and working with them involves an effort to understand and empathise. This results in a foundation of trust, mindful interaction and targeted practical as well as emotional support.
Solidarity and Critique
Providing supportive and critical guidance
Through critical interventions, we support people in moving away from paths of devaluation and generalisation and in reducing discriminatory and violent actions. As a civil society organisation, we also see it as our responsibility to support youth welfare services in integrating prevention and intervention measures of the Intervention Programm in a radicalisation process as a cross-cutting task. We consider it important to stand in solidarity with other organisations—especially when, from our perspective, meaningful work is being called into question.
Joy
Celebrating successes with joy
For us, joy means maintaining enthusiasm, passion and humour in our work. We allow ourselves to appropriately celebrate positive developments and impacts, even though we often work on challenging and serious topics.
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Film
What can be done when young people show far-right tendencies? This film provides insight into the work of Distanz e.V. and demonstrates how educational intervention can be successfully implemented.
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