What is Mobile Counseling against Right-wing Extremism?
Mobile
We are neither an emergency squad nor a team of social workers driving around looking for disenchanted youth. Instead, the team’s sense of mobility refers to its readiness to meet the people that ask for support in the places where they live or work. Team members of MBR make contact locally, they attend meetings of working groups and initiatives in Berlin’s city districts and neighborhoods. Thus, we place ourselves, and the process of counseling and consultation in the everyday reality of those already committed or those willing to become involved.
… Counseling
Our clients come from a variety of jobs, backgrounds and places. MBR offers counsel and support to anyone in Berlin willing to become active against right-wing extremism, racism and anti-Semitism. In the five years of MBR’s existence, typical client groups have been youth groups (especially those being targeted by right-wing violence and dominance), citizen’s action groups, NGOs, teachers, social workers, as well as civic authorities, and politicians on the municipal and federal state levels.
The term ‘counseling’ also refers to a request-oriented approach, meaning: a mandate from our clients is a prerequisite. In most cases, we do not interfere in local affairs unless we are asked to do so. In cooperation with the clients on site, MBR helps to develop sustainable strategies against right-wing extremist phenomena, always trying to draw upon or help build local networks, clients becoming partners and staying decision-makers at all times.
… against Right-wing Extremism
Providing knowledge is a primary function of MBR. Our team analyzes phenomena of right-wing extremism (RWE) in Berlin, ranging from organized structures to informal groups in neighborhoods. Ideally, the starting point of a consultation is a question or problem concerning RWE, racism and/or anti-Semitism. This usually leads to a thorough examination and analysis of the situation by our team members, naturally, in close cooperation with the clients and their partners.
The purpose and long-term goal of the work is to achieve a democratic culture, i.e. practice for everyday life. This concept of a “democratic culture” is based in the ideal of human rights and equality. It is a demanding concept, for it requires taking a position, establishing a lively culture of debate, and the personal willingness to take up action. Such democratic culture is aimed at handling conflicts in a non-discriminatory, non-accusatory way.
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How does Mobile Counseling work?
- Awareness – Analysis – Action
- Support for victims of attacks and hate crimes
- School and youth work
- Youth activism
- “No-go areas”: right-wing extremism in public spaces
- Civic protests against right-wing manifestations