Digital Media Literacy And Youth Civic Reasoning In Kenya

Project Funder: UNESCO – Global Youth Grant Scheme
Implementing Organization: The Youth Café
Project Duration: April – December 2025
Project Lead: Shirley Jemeli 


About the Project

The Digital Media Literacy and Youth Civic Reasoning in Kenya project was designed to strengthen young people’s capacity to critically engage with digital information, respond to misinformation and disinformation, and participate responsibly in civic and democratic processes.

Implemented between April and December 2025, the project responded to growing digital threats such as online misinformation, disinformation, AI-generated deepfakes, cyber harassment, and declining public trust in media, particularly during election periods. Through a mix of in-person engagements, digital campaigns, multimedia content, and policy-oriented dialogue, the project supported youth, journalists, civic actors, and communities to become more informed, resilient, and responsible digital citizens.


Objectives

The project sought to achieve the following objectives:

  • Strengthen media and information literacy skills among youth and key civic actors

  • Enhance youth civic reasoning and responsible participation in democratic processes

  • Improve understanding of digital rights, online safety, and relevant legal frameworks

  • Counter misinformation, disinformation, and emerging digital threats such as AI-generated deepfakes

  • Promote ethical journalism and responsible information sharing, particularly during election periods

  • Generate youth-informed insights and recommendations to support policy dialogue on digital rights and online safety

Highlights and Deliverables

Key highlights and deliverables of the project included:

  • Project Fact Sheet: Development and publication of a comprehensive fact sheet outlining the project’s objectives, approaches, and expected outcomes, accessed by over 1,000 users.

  • Podcasts: Two campus-based live podcast dialogues titled 'CybeRights Campus Connect' were held at USIU–Africa and Daystar University, with a cumulative 71 in-person participants, alongside a prerecorded podcast episode titled 'Democracy, Digital Truths & the Kenya We Want,' reaching 700+ online viewers.

  • Webinars on Digital Threats: Three online webinars focusing on AI and deepfakes, ethical journalism, and digital safety during elections, engaging journalists, activists, tech professionals, and youth leaders, reaching 1,500+ direct and indirect beneficiaries.

  • Media Literacy Series: Production and release of short media literacy videos addressing misinformation, disinformation, malinformation, and verification during politically charged times, accessed by 1,200+ users.

  • Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign: A digital awareness campaign conducted during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, featuring translated posters in English and Swahili and reaching over 3,000 online users.

  • Radio Engagement: A radio discussion hosted in partnership with Pawa Radio on the role of media and information literacy in defending democracy in the digital age.

  • Kenya–Ukraine Disinformation Workshop: A physical workshop bringing together Kenyan and Ukrainian civil society actors to exchange experiences and best practices in combating disinformation, with 20  in-person participants.

  • Policy Brief: Development and submission of a youth-informed policy brief to the Kenyan Parliament, advocating for improved digital rights protections and online safety measures.


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