{"id":12916,"date":"2025-06-27T08:58:46","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T08:58:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/?post_type=storiesprojects&#038;p=12916"},"modified":"2025-09-05T12:58:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T12:58:30","slug":"digital-citizenship-and-media-literacy-empowering-youth-for-peacebuilding-in-dire-dawa-ethiopia","status":"publish","type":"storiesprojects","link":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/stories\/digital-citizenship-and-media-literacy-empowering-youth-for-peacebuilding-in-dire-dawa-ethiopia\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy: Empowering Youth for Peacebuilding in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"background-color:#ffffff;flex-basis:1100px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:650px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"365\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20a44497-3c9f-44b6-b4d6-588622d2920c.png\" alt=\"Place\" class=\"wp-image-3663\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.0429447852760736;width:50px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20a44497-3c9f-44b6-b4d6-588622d2920c.png 365w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20a44497-3c9f-44b6-b4d6-588622d2920c-322x322.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20a44497-3c9f-44b6-b4d6-588622d2920c-161x161.png 161w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 365px) 100vw, 365px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">Ethiopia<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"373\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ee74041d-c718-41ed-9c9f-136b61fbbdc4.png\" alt=\"Implemented by\" class=\"wp-image-3678\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.005390835579515;object-fit:cover;width:50px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ee74041d-c718-41ed-9c9f-136b61fbbdc4.png 373w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ee74041d-c718-41ed-9c9f-136b61fbbdc4-322x320.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ee74041d-c718-41ed-9c9f-136b61fbbdc4-161x161.png 161w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 373px) 100vw, 373px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/LogoHeaderNew.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12917\" style=\"aspect-ratio:4.372093023255814\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"374\" height=\"367\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/a7139f12-2eb1-4c70-9b36-02973c958559.png\" alt=\"Powered by\" class=\"wp-image-3680\" style=\"width:50px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/a7139f12-2eb1-4c70-9b36-02973c958559.png 374w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/a7139f12-2eb1-4c70-9b36-02973c958559-322x316.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/a7139f12-2eb1-4c70-9b36-02973c958559-161x158.png 161w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"535\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Horizontal_RGB_600.bmp\" alt=\"USAID\" class=\"wp-image-12928\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Horizontal_RGB_600.bmp 1800w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Horizontal_RGB_600-322x96.jpg 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Horizontal_RGB_600-161x48.jpg 161w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Horizontal_RGB_600-768x228.jpg 768w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Horizontal_RGB_600-1536x457.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Horizontal_RGB_600-18x5.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-dark-blue-color has-text-color\"><strong>ABSTRACT<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"58\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/4da59f16-745e-4b15-87c9-c262d2bdca92.png\" alt=\"Abstract graphic handbook stories\" class=\"wp-image-3021\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:500px;height:30px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/4da59f16-745e-4b15-87c9-c262d2bdca92.png 1000w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/4da59f16-745e-4b15-87c9-c262d2bdca92-322x19.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/4da59f16-745e-4b15-87c9-c262d2bdca92-161x9.png 161w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/4da59f16-745e-4b15-87c9-c262d2bdca92-768x45.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"background-color:#ffde59\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:1000px\">\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201cDigital Citizenship and Media Literacy: Empowering Youth for Peacebuilding in DD Administration project\u201d was launched by Synergie for Community Development (SCD), with funding from USAID, to address the growing challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech, particularly among the youth in the Dire Dawa region of Ethiopia. The project aims to enhance digital literacy and promote positive social media practices among young people, social media influencers, and community stakeholders. SCD is committed to building a more informed and cohesive society through education and active engagement in digital citizenship.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-dark-blue-color has-text-color\"><strong>PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/YDC_Handbook_web.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"188\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/46ee6048-7c8c-414c-98a7-c57e401c6e9b.png\" alt=\"Programme description graphic\" class=\"wp-image-2904\" style=\"width:400px;height:undefinedpx\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/46ee6048-7c8c-414c-98a7-c57e401c6e9b.png 1000w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/46ee6048-7c8c-414c-98a7-c57e401c6e9b-322x61.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/46ee6048-7c8c-414c-98a7-c57e401c6e9b-161x30.png 161w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/46ee6048-7c8c-414c-98a7-c57e401c6e9b-768x144.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:1000px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>This initiative focuses on training youth, including high school students and teachers, on critical topics such as media literacy, online security, privacy, and the responsible use of social media. During the reporting period, SCD successfully trained 15 high school teachers, 35 youth university students, and 644 high school students. The program also included workshops for 16 social media influencers to reflect on effective engagement and advocacy against misinformation. Furthermore, the initiative promotes a grassroots campaign, #HATEFREEETHIOPIA, to encourage civic participation and raise awareness about the dangers of digital hate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-dark-blue-color has-text-color\"><strong>ENABLING FACTORS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:1000px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1640\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ARTS-4-change-7-1.png\" alt=\"Enabling factors graphic\" class=\"wp-image-2967\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:40px;height:25px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ARTS-4-change-7-1.png 1640w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ARTS-4-change-7-1-322x196.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ARTS-4-change-7-1-161x98.png 161w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ARTS-4-change-7-1-768x468.png 768w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ARTS-4-change-7-1-1536x937.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1640px) 100vw, 1640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Key enabling factors for the project\u2019s success include the strong partnership between four local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)\u2014SCD, Positive Action for Development (PAD), (Dire Dawa Civil Society Network (DDCSN), and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI)\u2014and the Dire Dawa government. Their collaborative approach facilitated regular coordination meetings and trust-building among stakeholders. Engagements with the local education bureau and discussions with private high schools helped overcome initial challenges in participant recruitment. This collaborative environment, combined with thorough community outreach, created a supportive framework for project implementation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-dark-blue-color has-text-color\"><strong>KEY IMPACTS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"background-color:#ffffff\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:1000px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The project has seen significant positive outcomes, reflected in enhanced knowledge and active participation among youth and educators in digital literacy efforts. Following the training sessions, participants were empowered to contribute to a community-wide narrative promoting responsible social media usage. Increased involvement from local government bureaus and CSOs illustrates a growing support network for sustainable peace initiatives in the region. The establishment of the Sustainable Peace Activity coordination committee further solidifies the commitment to continued collaboration towards achieving project goals. The anticipated #HATEFREEETHIOPIA and #STOPHATENOW campaigns will mobilize trained youths and stakeholders, fostering a sense of community aimed at nurturing a safer online environment for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udcaa Supported by the Youth Democracy Cohort<br>\u26a1 Powered by the European Union \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/map\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Footer-1.png\" alt=\"Interactive Map Footer\" class=\"wp-image-13011\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Footer-1.png 2000w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Footer-1-322x145.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Footer-1-161x72.png 161w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Footer-1-768x346.png 768w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Footer-1-1536x691.png 1536w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Footer-1-18x8.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ethiopia ABSTRACT The \u201cDigital Citizenship and Media Literacy: Empowering Youth for Peacebuilding in DD Administration project\u201d was launched by Synergie for Community Development (SCD), with funding from USAID, to address the growing challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech, particularly among the youth in the Dire Dawa [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":12996,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"story-category":[25],"project-category":[],"project-region":[315],"story-tag":[32],"class_list":["post-12916","storiesprojects","type-storiesprojects","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","story-category-story","project-region-africa","story-tag-digital"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/storiesprojects\/12916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/storiesprojects"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/storiesprojects"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/storiesprojects\/12916\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13246,"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/storiesprojects\/12916\/revisions\/13246"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"story-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story-category?post=12916"},{"taxonomy":"project-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project-category?post=12916"},{"taxonomy":"project-region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project-region?post=12916"},{"taxonomy":"story-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story-tag?post=12916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}