DECOUNT - The Game
UNDERSTAND RADICALISATION INTERACTIVELY
Radicalisation is often a gradual process. The game’s four protagonists — Marco, Jasmin, Jens and Franziska — are ordinary teenagers. In the course of the game, they find themselves in situations in which they have to make decisions. Depending on their decisions, their story ends up taking — or not taking — a radical turn. The game tries to get across the active role teenagers and adolescents play in shaping their lives and convey that their decisions have consequences. The game’s aim is to strengthen teenagers’ ability to think critically and raise their awareness of mechanisms of extremist propaganda and of recruiters.
SUPPLEMENTARY EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL
In an accompanying booklet you will find information on how to incorporate the game in educational practice, both in youth work and school. In addition to general information on the topic of youth and extremism (prevention), the PDF contains concrete advice and tips for the use of the game in class and other settings.
AGE RECOMMENDATION
Due to its graphic content both in terms of language and depiction of violence, the game is neither suitable for persons under the age of 16, nor for teenagers who themselves have been exposed to or affected by extremist violence.
Four stories
MArco: Jihadism
Marco spends most of his time with his friends, who are usually up to no good and often get in trouble with the police. Their main interests are soccer, MMA and rap, and they regularly hang out at hookah bars. Marco is also having a tough time at home and does not get along with the clique anymore due to a certain incident. All of a sudden, an old friend comes back into his life to help him change his lifestyle. Little by little, politics and religion start becoming more important to Marco, which is evident in his conversation timeline. Meanwhile, everything seems to be cool with his new clique — or is it?
Jasmin: Jihadism
As they start attending different schools after the summer break, Jasmin and her friends lose touch. Since she is having a hard time trying to find friends at her new school, Jasmin starts looking for advice online. She comes across content on beauty in Islam which catches her attention as many issues are dealt with thoroughly in a scientific manner. In the meantime, two old friends start showing themselves in headscarves on social media and invite her to join a secret group…
Franziska: RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM
Franziska is interested in environmental issues and wants to become an influencer. As she moves to the big city to study journalism, she leaves her entire world behind — her countryside home, her father who is a passionate beekeeper, and her friends. Meanwhile the environment seems to become an increasingly important topic in the city as well. Two groups are competing for Franziska to join them, as they could use her commitment and skills. While both groups are planning similar activities, they differ in the ways they define environmental protection. Franziska has to make up her mind on what her priorities are and what lengths she is willing to go to for her career…
Jens: RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM
As Jens switches schools, the Nazi era is on his new history teacher’s agenda and the class prepares for a visit to the former concentration camp Mauthausen. Not all of his classmates are thrilled by the idea. One of them seems particularly ambivalent and therefore gets rejected by the others. Jens needs to take a stand as he gets enticed into a new world — it’s just about music and partying, how bad could it be…?
