In an era where misinformation spreads rapidly online, 30 youth from Gondar city and Aykel town have been equipped with essential media literacy skills to combat online disinformation and promote social cohesion. The three-day training, organized by Ghion Peace, Reconciliation, and Development Association (GPRDA) in partnership with Internews and funded by the European Union (EU), took place from March 27–29, 2025, at Jan Tekel Hotel.
The training, part of the “Youth Media Literacy and Theatrical Performance for Social Cohesion” project, aimed to empower participants with critical skills to identify disinformation, misinformation, fake news, verify online content, and promote social cohesion in their communities.
Through interactive sessions, the youth learned to critically analyze sources, evaluate information credibility, and understand the contextual framing of media content. Participants were introduced to various verification tools and techniques, including photo and video verification tools like Yandex, TinEye and Google Reverse Image Search, as well as Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) tools such as Flight Radar and Google Earth. These tools enabled the trainees to practice evaluating sources and verifying information effectively.
The training also highlighted existing media literacy initiatives in Ethiopia, such as Ethiopia Check and Haq Check, providing participants with a broader understanding of the efforts being made to combat disinformation in the country.
The impact of the training was evident in the significant improvement in participants’ media literacy skills. Pretest and post-test results showed a notable increase in knowledge, with the mean score rising from 5.63 to 7.6. Additionally, the participants formed a Telegram group named “GPRDA Media Literacy Trainees” to continue sharing news and detecting fake news collaboratively.
The success of this training marks a vital step towards empowering youth in Gondar and Aykel to become informed, critical thinkers and proactive agents of change in their communities.
Mr. Atrsaw Necho, Executive Director of GPRDA, emphasized the training’s broader significance. “By equipping our youth with media literacy skills, we’re not just fighting disinformation – we’re building a foundation for more informed, cohesive communities,” Mr. Atrsaw remarked.
The overwhelming positive response from participants has highlighted the urgent need to expand such initiatives to reach more young Ethiopians.
GPRDA remains committed to expanding media literacy efforts, ensuring more Ethiopians can navigate the digital world responsibly. With the success of this training, plans are underway to reach more youth in conflict-prone areas, reinforcing the link between media literacy and peacebuilding.
