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Equipping participants to develop their projects, UNESCO, with the support of the Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, offered a 2-day online mentorship programme on media and information literacy and coding, led by UNESCO specialists, professors, and international experts. 

On 10 October 2023, an international and independent jury selected the four winning teams, one in each of four categories:

• Game: MIL Justice League, Cameroon
• Video: Wazobia, Nigeria
• Application: MILES, Philippines
• Community-based intervention: Youth Media Literacy Ambassadors Program (YMLAP), Jordan

The four winning teams presented their projects during the 91�鶹������Ʒ���� and as part of the Partnerships Hub of UNESCO’s General Conference, on 14 November 2023, in Paris. Each team also received an award for successfully addressing the need to improve media and information literacy in digital spaces.

Six months following the Hackathon, participants have made strides in developing their projects.

Jordan’s Youth Media Literacy Ambassadors Program (YMLAP) aims to elevate urban youth as media literacy ambassadors to educate peers and communities, promoting critical thinking and information literacy through campaigns and events. Saja Sallam, founder of the project, shares her experience with Hackathon and how it helped propel YMLAP to increase its impact in the country.

1. How did you become aware of the importance of MIL skills in your country?

Growing up in Jordan, I witnessed firsthand the challenges my peers and I faced in navigating the digital world. Misinformation was rampant, and many struggled to discern credible sources from false information. This lack of media and information literacy (MIL) skills became increasingly evident with the rise of social media and online platforms. Seeing the impact misinformation had on our society, from influencing opinions to shaping public discourse, made me acutely aware of the importance of MIL skills in our country. It became clear that empowering youth with these skills was crucial to combating misinformation, promoting critical thinking, and fostering a more informed society.

2. Briefly describe your project. How does it address the need for MIL education in your context and beyond?

The Youth Media Literacy Ambassadors Program (YMLAP) in Jordan addresses digital navigation challenges, particularly among youth, by enhancing media literacy skills and combating misinformation. Through promotion of media literacy in urban areas, empowerment of youth ambassadors through training and mentoring, community engagement via classes and events, encouragement of critical thinking through content creation, and provision of interactive learning via an online platform, the program aims to foster responsible media consumption and empower young minds to become positive influencers in their communities.

YMLAP addresses the need for MIL education by targeting youth in Jordan, equipping them with skills to navigate the digital realm responsibly. By promoting media literacy, empowering youth ambassadors, engaging communities, encouraging critical thinking, and providing interactive learning, it serves as a model for similar initiatives worldwide.

3. Did you attend UNESCO's mentoring programme during the first week of September 2023 and, if so, what were your biggest lessons learned? How did you put this into practice in your project? 

Yes, I attended UNESCO's mentoring program during the first week of September 2023. One of the biggest lessons I learned was the importance of community engagement in promoting media and information literacy skills. This included actively involving local communities in the development and implementation of MIL initiatives, ensuring that the programs were culturally relevant and responsive to the specific needs of the community. I would put this into practice in my project by organizing community forums and workshops where community members could actively participate in discussions about media literacy and share their perspectives and experiences. This approach helped to foster a sense of ownership and sustainability within the community, ultimately leading to greater impact and effectiveness of the project.

4. How has your project advanced since your presentation at UNESCO’s General Conference in Paris, last autumn? 

Since my presentation at UNESCO’s General Conference in Paris last autumn, our project has made significant strides forward. I've solidified our commitment to promoting media and information literacy (MIL) by integrating it with the Civic Participation Discipline. Additionally, being accepted into the U.S. Jordan Leadership Exchange program has provided me with invaluable experiences and insights from the United States, which I plan to implement upon our return to Jordan within my team. Moreover, the connections and networks established during these experiences have enriched our project, allowing us to forge partnerships and collaborations that enhance our impact on MIL education in Jordan.

5. What are the next steps in your project's implementation?

The next steps in our project's implementation involve launching awareness-raising sessions about media literacy, starting in July-August 2024. We plan to utilize the Crown Prince Foundation's 12 offices in Jordanian governorates as hubs for these sessions, ensuring widespread reach and accessibility across the country. These sessions will serve as a foundational step in empowering youth with media and information literacy skills, setting the stage for further engagement and initiatives aimed at combating misinformation and promoting responsible media consumption.