The National Youth Council (NYC) has launched an ambitious initiative titled “Capacity Building for Youth Organizations on Mainstreaming Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in their Programs and Policies.”
This groundbreaking program, funded by the UNESCO Dakar Office through the Peacebuilding Fund, aims to equip youth organizations across all regions of The Gambia with essential tools to combat misinformation, promote critical thinking, and foster responsible media engagement.
Launched in the Lower River Region, the program targets Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and youth associations to integrate Media and Information Literacy (MIL) into their organizational frameworks. Participants are being trained to: Explain MIL concepts like critical thinking, responsible media usage, and combating misinformation. Highlight the role of MIL in advancing democracy, youth empowerment, and social cohesion. Integrate MIL principles into policies and strategic plans. Address pressing issues such as hate speech, disinformation, and civic engagement through practical MIL approaches. Design impactful campaigns and initiatives rooted in MIL principles. Advocate for MIL and train others in their communities.
During the opening session, Omar Bah, Program Officer for Peace, Security, and Justice at NYC, emphasized the critical importance of equipping young people to navigate today’s complex media landscape. He called on participants to embrace MIL as a tool to safeguard peace and social cohesion.
Participants, including Nyima Bah from the North Bank, expressed optimism about the training. “I hope to learn how to identify and tackle hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation,” she said.
Similarly, Fatou Gaye from the same region highlighted the vulnerability of young people to such threats, stating, “This training is vital in helping us counter these dangers and promote peaceful coexistence.”
Dembo Mye from Juffereh also underscored the significance of the initiative.
“Disinformation and misinformation are serious threats to our society’s peaceful cohesion. We need to understand how to counter them effectively,” he noted.
The program brought together 10 youth leaders from all seven regions of The Gambia. By fostering critical thinking, digital literacy, and informed decision-making, NYC hopes to cultivate a generation of young leaders capable of tackling misinformation and driving sustainable peace.
As the program progresses, participants will design campaigns and initiatives that champion MIL principles and share best practices to inspire their peers. The NYC remains committed to empowering youth as agents of change in the fight against hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation.
This initiative represents a bold step towards a media-savvy and socially cohesive Gambia, ready to overcome the challenges of a rapidly evolving information age.
