The project "Building Resilient Youth through Engagement, Leadership, and the Development of Cognitive and Social-Emotional Skills" implemented by the Institute for Activism and Social Change (IANS), is a new and timely initiative in the region of Fier, Albania. Launched in June 2025 and running through February 2026, the project addresses one of the most urgent challenges facing vulnerable youth today: the risk of radicalization and violent extremism. This risk is particularly acute in areas like Fier, where systemic economic, social, and infrastructural issues create fertile ground for disillusionment, isolation, and susceptibility to extremist narratives.

Fier’s landscape is marked by disparities between urban and rural communities, underdeveloped infrastructure, and limited access to quality cultural and educational opportunities. These conditions significantly restrict young people’s chances for personal development, economic independence, and meaningful social engagement. The lack of employment opportunities that align with their skills and aspirations often forces youth into exploitative or unsatisfying jobs. Meanwhile, the absence of recreational and cultural outlets deepens feelings of marginalization. Within this environment of limited prospects and social disconnection, early exposure to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco—often symptoms of deeper emotional and psychological struggles—further increases vulnerability.

This project offers an alternative path. Through education, skills training, leadership development, and civic engagement, it creates meaningful opportunities for youth to build resilience and purpose. By empowering young people to critically recognize and resist manipulative narratives, fostering a sense of belonging, and providing tools for constructive self-expression, the project lays the foundation for long-term social cohesion. The project represents a youth-centered strategy to counter violent extremism, addressing both its online and in-person manifestations. By nurturing cognitive and emotional resilience, the project enables youth in Fier not only to resist radicalization, but to thrive as active, informed, and compassionate members of their communities.