In the digital age, empowering youth with digital skills and utilizing digital spaces is crucial for building a solid foundation for social cohesion. Digital spaces such as social media platforms and online forums significantly connect youth across geographical boundaries. In Sri Lanka, the CCEPs are mobilized and strengthened to be able to conduct intensive training and foster digital literacy among youths and women. As the use of religious belief to create disputes amongst the public for political motives, especially during elections, is prevalent in the country, the project emphasizes providing youths and women with extensive digital literacy training. Through this, the participants are educated on 3 different topics: 1. how to curb online hate speech, 2. understand the concept of mis/disinformation and how it helps to create socio-political propaganda, and 3. how to use online space and social media efficiently to alienate religion and ethnic identities to impact the election and its political outcomes. For tangible and intangible outcomes, the trained youths will launch a massive social media campaign targeting the elections on the theme “Love All, Hate None,” aiming for a total outreach of one million. The project incorporates ‘Train the Trainers (ToT)’ approach to expand education to larger community groups. By leveraging digital media’s power, young people can amplify their voices, advocate for change, and build inclusive digital communities.
Youth and Social Cohesion: Learning from Regional Grassroot-level Practices
