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ufuq.de strives to develop alternatives to the heated debates about Islam, \u201cparallel societies\u201d and radicalisation, and to promote pluralism and social cohesion. Our work involves civic education, prevention, and scholarly research.<\/p>\n
Questions and conflicts related to cultural and religious diversity are a normal feature of modern pluralistic societies. Our aim is to strengthen educators to address these questions and to empower youngsters in their dealings with cultural and religious differences. Our association\u2019s name says it all:\u00a0ufuq<\/em>\u00a0is Arabic for \u201chorizon\u201d.<\/p>\n As social scientists, scholars of Islam, and educators, we work with young people as well as school faculties, youth work professionals, social workers affiliated with municipal administrations, and other information disseminators. We inform, advise, and develop materials for hands-on educational work with young people of various ethnic and religious backgrounds. Moreover, we offer training programmes for educators that can help them address the topics of Islam, racism,\u00a0and radicalisation\u00a0in classroom settings.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do we want to live?\u201d This is one of the central questions we examine, for we are interested in young people\u2019s\u00a0Lebenswelten<\/em>\u00a0and how these relate to religion, identity, racism,\u00a0and religious extremism. What are the interests and desires of young Muslims today? How do they see themselves and others? What are their experiences and how do they live out their faith, assuming that this is even important to them?<\/p>\n One objective of our working together with young people is empowering them to speak out on questions concerning their identity and religion. We want to provide them with the space in which they can not only formulate their own interests, wishes, and orientations, but also learn to deal with those who embrace different views. This entails making visible the diverse ways Muslims think and live. After all, only those who can think for themselves and are aware of the broad spectrum of Islamic traditions can draw on alternatives that can enable them to resist the highly ideologised positions that young people often face. But it is also important that we take discrimination and racism seriously. The sense of frustration and helplessness that Muslims feel when confronted with discrimination and marginalisation must be addressed; we must envision courses of action that individuals can take.<\/p>\n ufuq.de also raises awareness of anti-democratic views and views that threaten individual freedoms. It does so by educating young minds about alternatives to the simplistic world views peddled by religious extremism \u2013 views that are aimed at giving young lives meaning and providing young people with a sense of direction. Our efforts serve to encourage young people to resist these simplistic world views and orientations; we wish to support young people from diverse backgrounds in their struggle to find their way in society.<\/p>\n This also includes working with non-Muslim youngsters and educators. After all, prevention work against racism and radicalisation presupposes a willingness among non-Muslims to acknowledge demographic change, the migrant backgrounds of young people, and the normality of Muslim life in contemporary Germany. Experiences with everyday racism and discrimination in the educational sector or in the job market as well as racist reporting in the media \u2013 all of these influence young Muslims\u2019 self-image, something which makes it more difficult for them to identify with society.<\/p>\nMuch of our work is focused on youth cultural phenomena and trends.<\/h3>\n
We believe that civic education\u00a0with\u00a0youngsters from various religious and social backgrounds contributes towards\u00a0a democratic and pluralistic society and\u00a0serves as a preventive measure\u00a0against extremism.<\/h3>\n
We serve as a point of contact for educational institutions, public authorities, academia, and politics.<\/h3>\n