The following human stories are part of the Small Grant Scheme under the national programme “Strengthening Local Structures and Government Institutions to Prevent Violent Extremism and to Support the Process of Rehabilitation and Reintegration in Albania,” funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) and implemented by Nisma për Ndryshim Shoqëror ARSIS, in full coordination with the National Centre for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE Albania) and ACPD Albania.
The Small Grant Scheme supports local civil society organisations, schools, youth groups, and community actors to design and implement community-led prevention initiatives
- Online radicalization is a silent and ongoing reality
A human story from the GCERF Small Grant Scheme – Implemented by Youth Empowerment and Community Engagement For P/Cve in Cërrik
From curiosity to awareness
R.K. is a 16-year-old student attending “Mehmet Bajraktari” School in Shalës, Cërrik. Like many young people today, R.K. is active on social media and online platforms that offer connection, but also carry serious risks. During a Peer-to-Peer Education Session on social media security, online radicalisation, and digital safety, R.K. reflected on a personal experience that could have taken a dangerous turn.
“Once I received a friend request from an unknown person. I accepted it without thinking too much. Later, I realized that this person had bad intentions. I immediately removed them.”
At the time, R.K. did not fully understand the risks associated with online recruitment, manipulation, and misinformation. It was only through participation in repeated awareness sessions that the real danger became clear.
Learning to protect oneself online
Through the project’s youth empowerment activities, R.K. learned:
- How radicalisation and manipulation can begin through simple online contact
- Why unknown invitations should never be accepted
- How online conversations can be used to influence beliefs and behaviour
- The importance of thinking critically before responding or sharing information
“The first step is to never accept invitations from people we don’t know and trust. We should also be careful about how we respond and what we say online.”
This new awareness helped R.K. change behaviour, become more cautious online, and share these lessons with peers multiplying the preventative impact of the intervention.
Impact at youth and community level
The peer-to-peer approach created a safe space for open discussion, where young people could reflect on real experiences without fear of judgement. For R.K., the sessions transformed a risky personal experience into a lesson in digital resilience and self-protection.
This story highlights how online radicalisation is not an abstract threat, but a real and present risk for adolescents often beginning through simple online interactions.
- A conversation that changed everything
A human story from the GCERF Small Grant Scheme – Implemented by Institute for Activism and Social Change (IANS), in Fier
A family’s silent struggle after moving cities
A.R. is a mother who recently moved with her family from Durrës to Fier, hoping to give her children a fresh start. Her 11-year-old daughter, L., transferred mid-year to a new elementary school. Quiet and withdrawn, L. struggled to adjust, but her mother believed this was only the natural difficulty of leaving friends behind.
Everything began to change when A.R. attended a cyberbullying and online safety awareness session organized at the school for students, teachers, parents, the school psychologist, and the school community police officer. As the trainers described the emotional and behavioral signs of cyberbullying—secrecy with phones, long hours online, sudden withdrawal A.R. felt increasingly uneasy. These were the same signs she had been observing in her daughter.
At the end of the session, she hesitated briefly before approaching the trainers. She asked if they could talk privately.
That short conversation changed everything.
When silence was finally broken
In a safe space, A.R. shared her concerns. L. had never spoken about any online problems, but her behavior suggested something deeper. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the trainers immediately recommended involving the school community police officer and the school psychologist. A follow-up meeting was organized the next day with the teacher, psychologist, police officer, and A.R.
Supported by the adults around her, L. finally found the courage to speak. The cyberbullying had not started in Fier it had begun months earlier in Durrës. Former classmates had continued to target her online, sending insulting messages and creating group chats where she was openly mocked. After moving to Fier, a few new classmates unknowingly joined the same online gaming platform, where the bullying was repeated.
Through a sensitive and coordinated response, the school community police officer held a session with the entire class on digital responsibility, online harm, and the consequences of cyberbullying. The students involved gradually understood the impact of their actions. The harassment stopped.
A mother’s reflection, a child’s recovery
For A.R., the experience was overwhelming but transformative:
“I came to the awareness session thinking I would learn something small. I left, realizing my daughter had been carrying this pain alone. I’m grateful the school and your team listened.”
Slowly, L. regained her confidence. She became more comfortable in her new class, began participating again, and felt supported both at home and at school. For A.R., the most important lesson was clear:
“Online suffering does not disappear on its own it comes to light only when adults actively look for the signs.”
- Finding her voice through digital empowerment
A human story from the GCERF Small Grant Scheme – Implemented by IRCA
Llakatund, Vlore
From silence to participation
S.L. is a 15-year-old student at “Faslli Danaj” School in Llakatund, Vlore. Growing up in a peripheral area where opportunities for youth engagement are limited, she often felt that her ideas and voice did not have space to be heard. Like many young people in rural and underserved communities, she was motivated and curious but lacked the platforms to express herself or participate in meaningful initiatives.
Before joining the activities under the Resilience and Safe Spaces for Youth project, S.L. followed community issues quietly from the sidelines. She wanted to be involved but did not yet know how.
A turning point through digital engagement
Her participation in the project marked a turning point. Through structured youth activities focused on resilience, awareness, digital skills, and positive peer engagement, S.L. quickly emerged as one of the most enthusiastic and active participants.
She later became a member of the youth podcast team, contributing to the creation of awareness-raising digital episodes on topics relevant to young people and the wider community. Through podcasting, she discovered the power of digital storytelling as a tool for dialogue, prevention, and social impact.
“I never imagined that my voice could reach others, but now I know that even a small message can make a difference.”
S.L. learned that even from a small rural community, young people can shape powerful messages that promote prosocial behaviour, empathy, and prevention of violent extremism.
Impact at youth and community level
Today, S.L. is an inspiring example for her peers. She speaks with confidence, encourages others to participate in youth initiatives, and actively contributes to digital awareness efforts. Her journey demonstrates how safe spaces, mentorship, and digital tools can transform young people from passive observers into active changemakers.
Her story reinforces the importance of investing in youth especially in remote and underserved communities, where potential often exists but remains untapped without opportunity.
“We all win when we support and help one another. This should be our common goal.”
