Yaounde: Organisations educates over 100 youth on digital rights.

The programme is implemented by Heart of Hope Cameroon, HoHCa, in partnership with Unity Foundation Cameroon, UFC, and Africa Needs Us Foundation, ANUF, with support from the Digital Democracy Initiative.

The initiative targets 300 young people aged 15 to 35 across Yaounde, Bamenda, and Buea. Each regional workshop will engage 100 participants, providing training on digital human rights, online safety, digital literacy, advocacy skills, and the digital economy. 

The project aims to equip youth with the knowledge and tools to participate in shaping digital policy, defend their rights online, and lead community-based campaigns across Cameroon.

Enter organisers

Speaking at the training session in Yaounde, the Project Director and CEO of Heart of Hope Cameroon, Sylvie Ngum Chiabi, stressed that their aim is to train and empower young persons across the country with digital skills to help them advocate their rights.

“We will select fellows who will serve as ambassadors for this programme to ensure sustainability and continued engagement in promoting safe digital spaces,” Chiabi told reporters.

On his part, the Project Manager, Julius Meleng Ntang, cued in that the project is designed to address misinformation, cyberbullying, and hate speech on social media. He added that youth will be guided in planning campaigns and engaging authorities on digital rights across the different social media platforms.

“Our goal is to train young people to navigate these challenges safely, promote positive online engagement, and advocate their rights. We are also preparing them to guide their peers and lead campaigns that will influence digital policy at both local and national levels,” Ntang stated.

Enter participants

Participants gained practical skills in digital rights advocacy, online safety, fact-checking, and campaigning. 

Alida Tchinda, one of the attendees, said the workshop provided her with both knowledge and practical tools to become an agent of change.

“This programme has equipped me to act not only for myself but for others, especially children, who are often excluded from discussions on digital rights. I have learned how to identify and respond to cyberbullying, misinformation, and harmful content online," she said.

Tchinda added that she plans to focus her advocacy on the protection of children in digital spaces, noting that parents sometimes post contents that expose children to online risks.

"Through this programme, I will work with my peers to create awareness campaigns and educate communities on safe social media practices," she said. 

About training

The training modules cover digital human rights and democracy, youth advocacy skills, cyber safety and cyber hygiene, the digital economy and foresight, and the development of youth-led action plans. 

At the end of the regional trainings in Yaounde, Buea and Bamenda, sixty selected youth will participate in regional Digital Policy Advocacy Forums that bring together government ministries, telecoms providers, and civil society organisations. 

Thirty of these young people will further be retained for a Digital Advocacy Fellowship to implement local advocacy initiatives, while a National Stakeholder Roundtable will gather youth, parliamentarians, government officials, telecoms operators, and civil society organisations to co-develop a Youth Digital Governance Roadmap for Cameroon.

According to the organisers, the project is part of the broader Digitalise Youth initiative implemented across Africa by the European Partnership for Democracy, AfricTivistes, Code for Africa, CFI Media Development, the World Scout Bureau Africa Regional Office, and the Kofi Annan Foundation. YODE-AYOVOSDIS is expected to run till April 2026.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3574 of Wednesday September 24, 2025