The capacity-building sessions provide the necessary knowledge to municipal employees of Kumanovo and Lipkovo to operate Youth Centres as Sports and Youth Social Hubs, specializing in countering violent extremism.

The capacity-building sessions empower sports professionals (coaches, athletes, etc.) with the knowledge to identify potential instances of violent extremism (VE) and contribute to their early prevention.

The two Sports and Youth Social Hubs (SAYSHs) offers a broad range of social and sports services, along with customized educational programs to young people. These initiatives aim to empower them, develop their personal skills, prepare them for the labor market and help them foster positive attitudes.

The services include:

• Social and psychological support: Individual and group counseling, social skills-building, empowerment training, self-advocacy, and activities to enhance social inclusion and cohesion.
• Sports services: Teamwork and collective exercise activities to promote better societal integration and intercultural awareness.
• Educational services: Training in negotiation, conflict resolution, and other personal development skills.

The training material aims to enhance young people’s resilience towards the risk of violent extremism. It includes non-formal learning activities that are related to sports, and material on human rights, gender equality, critical thinking, and empathy.

The toolkit presents how sports counter radicalization and prevent violent extremism (VE). It highlights successful initiatives and serves as a reference guide for youth and CSOs’ engagement in policy development.