The manual would now serve as a guide for training of trainers (TOT) for youth leaders in the Gambia and to help combat hate speech, mis and disinformation on social media.
The event, supported by UNESCO Dakar office, is targeting youth leaders across the country.
At the event, Alagie Jarju, executive director of the National Youth Council, underscored the significance of the validation, saying it would now guide the delivery of both national and regional training of trainers.
“The Gambia, like many African countries, has a youthful population as young people under the age of 35 constitute more than 65% of the national population.” he explained
Jarju further reminded that out of this figure, a bulk of internet users, especially social media, in the country have no education on media and information literacy, and with easy access to the internet, makes them prone to mis and disinformation.
He equally observed that young people are especially prone to taking decisions and actions based on wrong information consumed online or sharing dis/misinformation, albeit unknowingly.
Through this project, he added that the council as the umbrella body of youth organizations in The Gambia, will work with UNESCO in promoting the use of MIL to strengthen the critical capacities of youth organisations as this is essential for the sustainable development of any society.
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