UNESCO empowers young influencers to promote civic responsibility, peace online.

The initiative, part of the PRONEC-REAMORCE project, under the National Programme for Civic Education for the Reinforcement of Peaceful Coexistence and Living Together, dubbed PBIF Connect, took place from August 1 to 2, at the UNESCO Office in Yaounde.

The workshop drew an array of up and coming social media influencers, top officials from the project implementation, as well as the representative of the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education, MINJEC, Maha Hadja. 

Held under the theme: “Digital Engagement for Civic Empowerment”, the training, officials said, sought to foster a new generation of digital ambassadors committed to peacebuilding, social cohesion, and responsible online citizenship, particularly within communities affected by the ongoing crisis in Cameroon.

Addressing participants at the workshop, the UNESCO representative outlined the vision behind the training

“This masterclass is part of our broader ambition to develop a network of youth, digital soldiers for peace and civic engagement. We want to empower them to produce content that inspires positive change and strengthens online citizenship,” the official revealed. 

Queuing in from the UNESCO official, the MINJEC representative, Maha Hadja, stressed the transformative potential of digital tools in shaping public consciousness.

“It is important to empower young influencers, with the skills to raise constructive voices in an era where social media plays a powerful role in shaping narratives. As youths, you have the responsibility to counter stereotypes, denounce misinformation, and promote unity,” she said. 

She noted that the PBIF Connect project is designed to support peaceful coexistence in regions marred by conflict through initiatives that encourage civic education and youth participation.

During the masterclass, participants received hands-on training in producing meaningful content, with sessions led by media professionals and peacebuilding experts. They were also introduced to audio-visual production tools and received starter kits to aid their content creation efforts. 

Narokeri Moki-Suh, a participant, said: “Being part of this masterclass is a great honour. I hope to leave here better equipped to engage young audiences and counter the wave of misinformation we often see online. This is a chance to be a voice for truth”.

The youth influencer also applauded UNESCO for the technical support provided

“The tools they’ve given us, like microphones and other equipment, are essential. With the right tools, we can create content that’s clear, impactful, and truly reaches people,” Narokeri added. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3524 of Tuesday August 05, 2025.