Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism (AOCE), in collaboration with the Engineers for a Sustainable Egypt (ESE) Foundation, launched a new 3-day awareness program entitled “I am aware," aimed at protecting youth against extremist ideologies. The program seeks to equip youth with the necessary analytical tools to deconstruct extremist discourse and protect society from digital recruitment.
AOCE’s Executive Director, Dr. Reham Salama, welcomed the program’s participants, emphasizing that the "I Am Aware" program embodies Al-Azhar's mission to protect youth. She stressed that strengthening the domestic front begins with empowering young people to critically analyze destructive ideas.
For his part, ESE’s chairperson, Eng. Mohamed Kamel, expressed his appreciation for the collaborating with a global institution like the Al-Azhar Observatory. He emphasized that the sustainable development that the Foundation seeks is not limited to engineering and technical aspects alone, but also encompasses the sustainability of awareness and values.
During the workshops, AOCE’s researchers started with providing an overview of the AOCE, and then addressed several critical intellectual issues. The following are the key issues discussed during the three-day program:
o Anatomy of the extremist mind: examining the dynamics of extremist thought and highlighting that extremism is not a sudden occurrence but rather a cumulative process.
o The importance of possessing methodological tools to counter deceptive narratives
o Correcting misconceptions and combating Islamophobia.
o Warning against generalizations that aim to distort the image of Islam in the global consciousness.
o Critical thinking as a cornerstone for preserving identity
o The role of "value awareness" in protecting youth
At the conclusion of the program, the participants affirmed that "I Am Aware" program represents a living example of successful collaboration between religious institutions and civil society to reach various youth groups, thereby supporting sustainable development and contributing to the formation of a generation capable of confronting intellectual challenges with an enlightened vision.