Another Way Forward: Empowering Young Women Against Extremism is a new and pioneering initiative developed by JAN Trust, supported by Google.org and The Institute for Strategic Dialogue with the goal of galvanising young women and girls to counter extremism and radicalisation.

This project is the first of its kind aimed at young women and girls aged 16-25 years old. As part of the Another Way Forward project, we at JAN Trust will travel to schools to deliver our Safeguarding Against Extremism workshops, and young people will make their voices heard through video campaigns. Our aim is to empower young women against extremism and extremist ideology and ultimately contribute to vital social change on this issue!

As a women’s rights charity countering extremism, we are incredibly excited to work on this unique project with young women and girls. We recognise their potential and want to bring their passion and creativity to the surface to help combat extremism.

Watch this space!

About JAN Trust

JAN Trust was formed in 1989 as a result of an overwhelming demand from the community. Marginalised and socially excluded women were approaching JAN Trust’s founder at her home seeking help and assistance. These women, living in Haringey, were facing extreme deprivation and a dire need for access to basic skills and opportunities, including English language, education, jobs and an understanding of British services and systems. This was having an increasingly negative impact on their children who had little access to formal education. It was identified a need to formalise a support service for these local communities, and in 1989 JAN Trust was born.

The vision almost 30 years ago is one still widely shared by the charity today; to encourage, educate and empower women, building their self-confidence and allowing them to become independent and active citizens and take control of their own lives. Our work enables marginalised individuals to reintegrate with society, and improve life options for themselves, their families and the wider community. All of this was achieved through the provision of education and expert advice surrounding the multiple barriers and issues these women were facing.

Over the years JAN Trust has evolved to meet the growing demands of the community and has become a beacon of hope for marginalised and isolated BAMER women and young people. Our work has expanded nationally, delivering projects such as Against FGM, Against Forced Marriages, SAFE workshops and Web Guardians™ as well as continuing to deliver our core work from our centre in Haringey. JAN Trust remains faithful to its grassroots, addressing local and national needs on an interpersonal level, bringing women and communities together and celebrating our success with those whom we exist to help.

Why is JAN Trust countering extremism?

After having narrowly escaped death during the London terrorist attack on 7th July 2005, Sajda Mughal OBE left her corporate background with management consultancies and investment banking to become the CEO of JAN Trust. As the only known Muslim woman who was a victim of these devastating attacks, Sajda made it her life’s work to educate her community, especially women, about extremism and radicalisation. She is now a counter-extremism expert and is regularly asked to speak about her 7/7 experience and countering extremism at conferences, universities, colleges and schools both at home and internationally.