AgainstViolentExtremism.org
AgainstViolentExtremism.org
AgainstViolentExtremism.org is a network of former
extremists (known as ‘formers’) and survivors of extremist attacks who share
expertise – whether they are working to prevent young people being
radicalised or helping individuals leave violent extremist groups. For
instance, former violent extremists from Pakistan can discuss how to combat
terrorism with gang members from San Salvador. The
network includes others with an interest in countering violent extremism: activists, policy-makers,
entrepreneurs, and other business people.
The
AVE network was seeded in summer 2011 at the Summit Against Violent Extremism
(SAVE) in Dublin, hosted by Google Ideas. The summit demonstrated that former
perpetrators and survivors of violent extremism are powerful influencers in turning
potential and existing extremists away from a violent path.
The
network was launched formally by a consortium of partners: the Institute for Strategic Dialogue
(ISD), Google Ideas, the Gen Next Foundation
and rehabstudio. AVE’s private sector and
non-profit foundation support avoids some of the potential perceived conflicts
of interest faced by initiatives funded by governments and, importantly, brings
private sector expertise, methodologies, and entrepreneurism into efforts to
tackle the scourge of violent extremism.
The
network is founded on the belief that there are lessons to be learned between those
groups combating different forms of extremism, from Islamist far-right
extremism to gang violence. For instance, experience shows that the practical
measures needed to help an individual leave a skinhead football group, a
right-wing extreme group, or an Islamist network are similar. These individuals
will often require new housing, a new job, and a new social support structure.
Though
many organisations around the world are involved in efforts to tackle
extremism, they tend to be local, small-scale projects without significant
resources. The AVE network and associated website will allow individuals from
these organisations to share practical expertise, pool resources and find
donors or volunteers.
AVE
aims to have 500 members of the network by the end of year one and over 1000 by
the end of year two. The network already includes, amongst others, former
members of the white power movement from the US, former Islamist extremists
from Indonesia and former members of Latino street gangs.
Resources
now available on the site include a guide on how to run a charitable
organisation with tax efficiency, how to build a marketing campaign, how to use
social networks, how to host a virtual meeting, and how to build a website. Activists
will be able to upload short clips to start discussions through the site’s own
YouTube channel. In addition, members will be able to see the network grow
globally through a real-time network map that highlights where members are
located geographically. The network allows members to set their own privacy
settings, so that they can control the information about themselves that they
share.
The
website matches those who need help with people and organisations that have money,
time or expertise to offer. There is also a market place function in which
members can swap professional skills. Already, an NGO involved in countering
violent extremism has requested support from web developers through this forum.
Movements.org
Movements.org
Challenge – Half of
the world’s population is under 30 years old, and close to 70 percent of Middle
Eastern youth are under 30.
Literally, billions of people are, or will soon become, participants in
world affairs and events—now, faster than ever with a click of a button. Many of these young people are trying
to organize for democracy or peace using technological tools at their
fingertips. Yet, there is a tremendous relevance gap between the young
organizer on the ground, the CEO of the company whose technology is used, the
government body helping or in the way, and the NGO trying to champion related
causes.
Investment – Gen Next
Members saw an opportunity to lend their expertise, time, and a relatively
small amount of financial resources to start an organization that serves as a
catalyst for the players in youth movements around the world. The result was
Movements.org, a global network of young organizers, tech and media CEOs,
government partners, and NGO leaders to support young persons on the ground who
are working for democracy and peace.
Panelists and presenters have included the founder of WPP Sir Martin
Sorrell, co-founder of Facebook Dustin Moskovitz, co-founder of Twitter Jack
Dorsey, and more.
Results:
A paradigm shift: Hundreds of young persons around the
world are now playing active roles in leading youth movements in places like
Venezuela, Moldova, Iran, Cuba, Colombia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and more.
A salient display of youth meets technology based influence is with the
recent Arab Springs.
Relevance: CNN
named Movements.org Founder Jared Cohen’s work with the CEO of Twitter in
keeping Twitter active for Iranian activists as one of the Top Internet Moments
of the Decade. The US State Department,
as a part of the Innovation Agenda, supported Movements.org and helped
facilitate the organization’s most pressing needs to achieve global activation
and awareness.
Venture Growth: Movements.org now has full time staff
members, has hosted three global summits, trained hundred of young leaders
globally, and continues to be a valuable resource to young activists all over
the world.
Sustainability: Movements.org
gained support from some of the world’s most impactful companies, such as:
AT&T, MTV, Google, Pepsi, CBS News, Facebook, YouTube, National Geographic,
and many more.
Fuel Choice
Fuel Choice
Challenge – Hundreds of billions of dollars are sent
each year to the Middle East for oil. Dangerous dictators exploit oil as a
strategic commodity and help fund movements of violent extremism that commit
horrid acts of terror ending lives around the world. Meanwhile, the
transportation fuels sector in the US is dominated by petroleum dependence.
This leaves consumers with no choice.
Our leaders must act.
A transcendent global problem is energy security, and the lack
of a competitive marketplace in the U.S. There is a dangerous dependency on oil
in America, and it starts with education. Our science and math scores are
slipping – not even appearing in the top percentile globally – inhibiting the U.S.
from developing innovative solutions. Without marketplace innovation, or the
competition at all, the U.S. economy suffers from dependence on foreign oil
producers. This leaves the U.S. victim to other countries for an essential commodity.
These issues are interwoven, interdependent, and indispensible.
Investment – Few
realize that competition in transportation fuels could significantly reduce how
much money is being sent to dangerous dictators. For only $15,000 and by
leveraging our network of entrepreneurs and public policy experts, GNF
developed a simple and direct summary of the issue. This is utilized and
distributed by the Set America Free Coalition, the Institute for the Analysis
for Global Security, OpenFuelStandard.org,
and numerous U.S. congressmen and senators. Here
is a link to our video on Oil Independence.
Results:
Paradigm Shift: Open
Fuel Standards Act legislation is in motion, gaining traction and appeal.
Republican
Congressman John Shimkus and Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell are sponsors of
the legislation, along with many other political leaders. President Obama also issued an executive
order that orders all federal agencies to move to all alternative fuel
vehicles by the end of 2015.
Relevance: Advocates
and legislators are now utilizing the oil independence video to educate
consumers and political influencers.
Venture Growth: Energy
experts Gal Luft and Anne Korin presented a breakthrough idea that Members of
GN were passionate about and worked with experts to write a script. Limited dollars and leveraging a
network turned into focused strategy execution and delivery.
Sustainability: More
exposure and education is all that is needed, and once enough of the market
becomes aware, a new market segment will be created and flourish.
Bovespa
Bovespa
Challenge – Brazil is
the only BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) country with Western values, no
nuclear arsenal, no domestic terrorist threats, and a self-sustaining economy.
Favelas (slums) are home to vast portions of the population living below the
poverty line. This significantly drags the Brazilian economy. American attempts
to help are centered on drug wars, or are often perceived as strong arming—when
many Brazilians want an education and want to learn English.
Investment – The Sao
Paolo Stock Exchange (Bovespa) is one of two in the world that encourages
social enterprises to list on their exchange, thereby creating a pathway for
other public companies to invest in a cause. GNF is positioned to be the first foreign social investor to
build schools in one of the worst favelas in Rio de Janeiro for only
$100,000.
Results:
Paradigm Shift:
improve the Brazilian school system and economy, making them a better global
partner. Change the way Brazilians
view Americans and the way Americans view social investments.
Relevance: Brazil will
be hosting the World Cup and Olympic Games, proving to be an influential and much
needed partner in Latin America. Families educated in and around the sums will invariably
service individuals from all over the world during the tournaments.
Venture Growth: First
foreign social investor to build schools in one of the worst favelas in Rio de
Janeiro, propel awareness, and reform on a large and international scale.
Sustainability:
Bovespa would go on to numerous other projects, and new education models could
soon be replicated in the favelas.
A new and innovative form of social investment will have been piloted
that could then be piloted on a US exchange.
Countering Violent Extremism Fund
Countering Violent Extremism Fund
Challenge – There is
a need to build resiliency among Muslim youth against the allure of violent
extremism. It is more effective for community organizations, rather than
government, to address the issue. NGOs can build credible alternatives and
counter narratives, providing alternative non-violent outlets for restless
youth. But community groups lack capacity to meet the challenge, and there are
no dedicated resources focused on meeting the needs of community organizations
on the front lines of extremism.
Investment – $150,000
is needed to seed an effort to build capacity building among community
organizations
Desired Results:
Paradigm Shift: Appearance
of Violent Extremism reduced globally and a reduction in the role of government
to that of convener/enabler.
Relevance: A major
generational challenge—violent extremism—will be tackled by the private sector with
some of the most cutting edge methodology.
Venture Growth: Strong
NGOs and individuals to take the lead, and provide opportunity for private
donors to contribute to community-based solutions here and abroad.
Sustainability: Fund
for countering extremism grows into a globally recognized organization that
facilitates collaboration and support for persons and organizations turning the
tide against violent extremism
Serving Our Children
Serving Our Children
Challenge – Nearly
two-thirds of American high school students graduate from a compulsory school
system entirely unprepared to compete in a global economy. Severely
underperforming teachers and students are recycled through the system, dragging
everyone else down. Meanwhile, good teachers are stretched to the limits, often
using their own disposable income to go that extra mile—buying supplies,
textbooks, extra reading material, educational field trips, and more—to offer anything
that can help students see beyond widespread failure. Ambitious teachers are
the real change agents to transform a broken system, and realign focus onto the
students.
Investment --
Relieving ambitious teachers of unnecessary burdens allows them to focus on
core competencies—teaching to achieve student performance. GNF along with along with education
experts, reformers, social entrepreneurs, and private sector executives can
invest $75,000 to build and execute a business plan on creating a nationwide
organization focused on teacher empowerment. Resources in the forms of grants,
supplies, or help-lines could be offered to eager teachers across the
country.
Desired Results:
Paradigm Shift: The
most ambitious and effective teachers will be elevated, networked, and collaborative
directly with core needs outside of imposing power structures
Relevance: Teachers
can make the focus of education on students as well as strengthen the weak school
system
Venture Growth: Executed
business plan that works to build a nationwide organization focused on teacher
empowerment along with education experts, reformers, social entrepreneurs, and
private sector executives
Sustainability: Continuous activation of resources in the form of
grants, supplies, or help-lines offered to eager teachers across the country,
with continuous results seen by way of student success and development
