YMCA Ethiopia announce a launch of  Media Smart Youth – Ethiopian Movement

YMCA Ethiopia and eight civil society organizations officially launched Media Smart Youth coalition  movement, 9 Nov 2020, at  Capital Hotel, Addis Ababa.

It is evident that digital information technology, including mobile phones, the internet and the wide spread online social networks have transformed how we receive, interact with and create media. The change provides endless opportunities for young people to explore learn and socialize, contributing to their overall personal development.

Media, particularly the online media has become young people’s primary source of information, entertainment and space for exercising their rights.  It has increased their interest and engagement in local, regional and global social as well as political movements. Unfortunately, it has also become a vital space for different groups to communicate and promote their narratives and disseminate fake news and misinformation targeting young people.   

In Ethiopia where media messages dominate political debates and social media like Facebook and Twitter used for activism and organizing political movements, it is increasingly important for young people to engage with media critically and responsibly.

As a strategic tool for Meaningful Youth Engagement, the initiative we are launching, Media Smart Youth (MeSY) aims at empowering young people to easily access, critically analyse and evaluate media and enable them, be more responsible in creating and sharing media messages.  It will contribute in the development work we pursue and civil society movement.

During the official launching over 80 participants from federal and regional government representatives and officials, civil society, youth delegates and media professionals attended the meeting.

Media Smart Youth Ethiopia movement conceptualized and developed by Yohannes Teklu, a development practitioner for the last two decades.  The movement has eight founding member organizations and YMCA Ethiopia hosts and serve as coordinating body of the movement.