On September 11–12, 2024, a two-day workshop titled Youth Safety – How to Identify and Respond to Destructive Groups was held at the Secondary School of Economics in Loznica. The workshop was conducted as part of the SEED project – The Influence of Sects on High School Students’ Well-being: A Qualitative Study, aimed at raising students’ awareness about the dangers posed by destructive groups, particularly sects, and how to protect themselves from their influence.
The workshop was attended by third- and fourth-year students, with active participation from teachers and school staff. The lectures and interactive sessions provided participants with a deeper understanding of the methods used by destructive groups, how to identify manipulation, and how to adequately respond to risky situations.
Key topics covered in the workshop included:
- Definition and characteristics of destructive groups, with a focus on sects.
- Manipulation and recruitment methods used by these groups.
- Ways to identify and protect oneself from the influence of destructive groups.
- Strengthening youth resilience through community support and preventive measures.
Through discussions and analysis of real-life scenarios, students received practical advice on how to confront such threats, with a particular focus on developing self-awareness and critical thinking.
The workshop concluded successfully, with a high level of student engagement and an agreement to continue cooperation with the school in the field of youth safety education.
The workshop is part of the internal project “The Impact of Sects on the Well-Being of High School Students: A Qualitative Study,” which is funded by the “Seed” Research Grant Program within the SAIGE (Serbia Accelerating Innovation and Growth Entrepreneurship) project.
