More than fifty attendees belonging to the Catalan social and sports networks have been able to know first-hand the reality and conclusions of the SPEY project (Sport for the Prevention of Extremism in Youth), in a presentation organized by UFEC, leaders of the program.
The event served to explain how sport is an important factor in protection against extremist behavior, and the main risk factors in the radicalization of youth. The main research and conclusions of the SPEY project have also been introduced.
The session was attended by Gerard Esteva, President of UFEC; Milena de Murga, psychologist and criminologist, co-creator and coordinator of the SPEY project and director of the Department of Social and International Projects at the UFEC; and researchers from the University of Córdoba.
After the event, a snack was organized and then, took place the presentation of another European project in which UFEC participates, SPIRIT. The project, funded by the European Commission and led by the ENGSO, aims to work through sport for the psychological and emotional well-being of the general population, with an emphasis on migrants who have experienced traumatic experiences.
SPEY, a project to prevent the radicalization of youth
The SPEY project, led by UFEC and co-funded by the European Commission, combines the practice of sport and the learning of transversal skills with the aim of minimizing the risk factors involved in the process of radicalization in youth.
Given that youth at risk of exclusion are a vulnerable group and may become permeable to certain hate speech and extremist ideologies, SPEY seeks to improve the integration channels and support network of this community, giving them new resources and more constructive and positive tools, so that they can choose new vital opportunities.
Led by renowned academics, SPEY also wants to provide the project with tools capable of measuring the effectiveness of programs aimed at preventing extremism through sport. SPEY has the support of 7 countries and 10 ‘partners’, including the Swedish Sports Confederation, the Union of Federations of Latvia, the International Council of Sport and Physical Education of Germany, the City Council of Gondomar in Portugal, the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sport, the French think tank Sport and Citizenship, SNAFU and the University of Córdoba.