In a sunlit conference room at the National Elections Commission headquarters in Monrovia, eighteen young Liberians gathered not as rivals but as fellow learners, brought together by a shared concern for the truthfulness of public life. They were journalism students, political party youth activists, civil society organizers, and leaders of youth organizations—young people who already understand that their generation will shape Liberia’s democratic future. The occasion was a day-long workshop on media and information literacy, held on August 12, 2026, designed to help them identify misinformation and disinformation, critically evaluate online content, and use digital platforms responsibly to strengthen democratic participation and electoral integrity. This was the second edition of the workshop, titled “Media and Information Literacy for Democracy: Strengthening Youth Participation through Information Literacy,” a collaborative initiative implemented by the United Nations Development Programme through the Liberia Electoral Support Project, in partnership with the National Elections Commission, the Press Union of Liberia, and Local Voices Liberia, with funding from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden. The setting was deeply symbolic: the very institution responsible for credible elections was opening its doors to young people, signaling that democracy is not only about ballots but about the quality of the conversations that surround them. In a country where rumors can race through social media in seconds, where false stories can inflame ethnic and political tensions, and where elections have historically tested the resilience of peace, the ability to pause, verify, and think critically has become as essential as voting itself. These eighteen participants were not there merely to receive certificates; they were being invited into a network of young digital ambassadors who will carry their knowledge into schools, universities, communities, and online spaces, transforming digital platforms from arenas of manipulation into tools for meaningful participation.
Liberia’s democratic journey has been remarkable, but it remains fragile, and the digital landscape has introduced both new opportunities and new threats. Young people are the most active users of social media in the country, and they are also the most likely to be targeted by campaigns of manipulation during electoral periods. Misinformation—false information shared without harmful intent—and disinformation—deliberately crafted lies designed to deceive—can undermine public trust in institutions, provoke violence, and delegitimize the electoral process itself. The training therefore focused on practical literacy: how to distinguish fact from opinion, how to analyze the origins and purposes of a message, how to verify images and sources, how to recognize algorithmic echo chambers, and how to identify hate speech and cyberbullying. These are not abstract concepts; they are everyday challenges for young Liberians who navigate a crowded information environment where foreign-funded content farms, local rumor mills, and political spin all compete for attention. The initiative, managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, in collaboration with the NEC, and with support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden, is part of a broader effort to invest in civic infrastructure rather than in one-off events. By focusing on youth, the program acknowledges a demographic reality: Liberia is a young country, and the habits and norms that young people develop online today will determine the character of public discourse tomorrow. The workshop was not a lecture; it was an intervention in the democratic culture of the country. It sought to create a cohort of citizens who can serve as gatekeepers of truth, role models of responsible digital behavior, and bridges across political and social divides. In a society where institutional trust is often low, peer-to-peer influence among young people may be one of the most effective ways to inoculate communities against the poison of misinformation.
The opening remarks set the tone for the day. Roosevelt Zayzay, the Liberia Electoral Support Project Officer, described the initiative as an investment in a new generation of informed digital citizens who will champion truth, promote peaceful civic engagement, and strengthen the resilience of Liberia’s democracy. His words carried the weight of someone who understands that training is only the beginning; the real work will happen in classrooms, marketplaces, radio call-in shows, and encrypted messaging groups. He urged participants to take the knowledge they gained back to their schools, universities, organizations, communities, and digital platforms, making it clear that they were not passive recipients but active multipliers. Beatrice Jlopleh, the Deputy Director of Communications at the National Elections Commission, spoke with a sense of urgency. She reminded the young participants that elections are ahead, and while young people are active online, it is important not to allow others to misuse them. Her warning was not abstract; it reflected the reality that during electoral campaigns, youth are often weaponized by politicians who use social media to spread rumors, attack opponents, and polarize the electorate. But she also offered encouragement, urging them to use these platforms positively to impact their generation and to use their online influence to contribute to the country’s democratic development. Julius Kanubah, President of the Press Union of Liberia, spoke about the deep connection between media and information literacy and democracy itself. He reminded the audience that young Liberians are not just consumers of technology but also creators, innovators, and potential leaders who can use digital tools to influence governance and national development. At the same time, he called for greater efforts to confront misinformation, disinformation, cyberbullying, and online harassment, and he insisted that rural youth, women, and persons with disabilities must be included in Liberia’s digital transformation. His remarks were a reminder that the fight for reliable information cannot be won only in Monrovia; it must reach every county, every village, and every marginalized group that risks being left behind.
The participants themselves brought personal experiences and aspirations to the workshop. Sarahlyn Suntay, a student at the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism, said she hoped to strengthen her understanding of media literacy, cyberbullying, and responsible internet use. For her, this was not merely an academic exercise; it was about preparing to enter a profession where truth-telling is both a duty and a challenge. She understood that journalists are on the front lines of the information war, and that the credibility of the media depends on the ability of individual reporters to resist manipulation and verify facts before publishing. Raymond C. Myers of Youth Aid Liberia came with a different but complementary mission. He wanted to deepen his knowledge of digital platforms and apply the lessons learned to encourage responsible online engagement ahead of future elections. His work with young people had shown him how easily false narratives can spread among peers, especially when they tap into emotions like fear, anger, and loyalty. He left the workshop with practical strategies for starting conversations rather than arguments, for correcting false information without humiliating those who shared it, and for creating positive content that could compete with sensationalism. The participants also made public pledges to share the knowledge they had acquired with their institutions and communities. These pledges were significant because they transformed the workshop from a personal opportunity into a communal obligation. The young people in the room understood that they had been given a gift, but also a responsibility. They were not just learning for themselves; they were becoming nodes in a growing network of digital ambassadors, each committed to spreading media literacy in their own spheres of influence. This sense of ownership is essential to the long-term success of the program, because it means the impact of the training will continue to ripple outward long after the August session ended.
The substance of the workshop was rigorous and participatory. Participants examined the influence of traditional and digital media on civic participation, discussing both the constructive and destructive potential of different platforms. They explored the threats posed by misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and cyberbullying, analyzing real-life examples of how these phenomena had affected elections and social cohesion in Liberia and elsewhere. They engaged in practical exercises, group discussions, and case studies adapted from two important resources: the UNDP Youth Civic and Political Participation Curriculum and UNESCO’s Journey through the MILtiverse toolkit. These globally recognized materials were not imposed from above; they were adapted to the Liberian context, with examples that resonated with the participants’ own experiences. In small groups, they were asked to imagine themselves as digital peacebuilders, figuring out how to respond to a viral rumor, how to de-escalate an online conflict, or how to verify a suspicious image before sharing it. They learned to ask the key questions of media literacy: Who created this message? Why was it created? What evidence supports it? Who is being left out? They also learned about the emotional and psychological mechanics of disinformation—why false stories often spread faster than true ones, why people are drawn to content that confirms their existing beliefs, and how accountability can be built into online communities. The workshop treated participants not as empty vessels but as thinkers who already had valuable insights and lived experience. The discussions were lively, sometimes heated, but ultimately constructive. By the end of the day, the abstract idea of “information literacy” had been translated into concrete skills and shared language that the participants could use in real situations. They left with toolkits in their hands, but more importantly, with a mindset of curiosity, humility, and responsibility.
The workshop was the second in a three-part series designed to develop a network of young digital ambassadors capable of promoting peaceful dialogue, strengthening electoral integrity, and supporting democratic resilience across Liberia. The fact that this is a series, rather than a one-off event, signals a commitment to lasting change. The first session laid the foundation; the second deepened the skills; the third, presumably, will expand the network and prepare participants for ongoing collective action. The Liberia Electoral Support Project, which manages this and other interventions, is not only about technical election administration; it is about creating the conditions for credible, peaceful, and inclusive elections, and that includes shaping the information environment in which citizens make their choices. The support of the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden demonstrates international recognition that media literacy is not a luxury but a necessity for democratic development. As the participants return to their schools, organizations, and communities, they carry with them a quiet but powerful sense of purpose. They know that the next elections will bring pressure, manipulation, and noise. But they also know that they are not defenseless. They have learned to verify, to question, and to engage respectfully. They have joined a growing movement of young Africans who refuse to be passive victims of misinformation. The true measure of this workshop will not be found in the number of participants or the quality of the speeches, but in the choices these young people make the next time they encounter a shocking headline, a viral rumor, or a hateful comment. In those moments, they will remember that democracy depends on citizens who can think critically and act responsibly. And in that way, the investment made on August 12 in a conference room in Monrovia will continue to yield returns for Liberia’s democracy for years to come.