NNA - As part of UNESCO's work to strengthen media and information literacy in Lebanon and ensure its sustainability across communities, and in continuation of Global Media and Information Literacy Week activities, the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut organized a special Youth Day titled "From Media to Creativity: Youth Combating
Misinformation through Knowledge" at Tyre Public Mixed Secondary School. The event took place within the Youth Empowerment Project in the South, funded by UNIFIL and implemented in collaboration with UNESCO and UNICEF, and was attended by the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut, UNIFIL representatives, and the President of the Tyre Municipalities Union.
This day marked the culmination of a comprehensive training program implemented by UNESCO for teachers and students from the Lebanese International University – Tyre Branch, as well as content creators, student reporters, civil society organizations, and youth community groups.
The training focused on empowering around 250 young men and women from different areas in South Lebanon with skills in critical thinking, information verification, and countering disinformation and hate speech. These youth will, in turn, transfer these skills to students and communities, contributing to the creation of a more aware and responsible digital space, while opening new opportunities for learning, collaboration, and creativity to combat misinformation and promote positive discourse.
In his remarks, Paolo Fontani, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut, stated: "UNESCO believes in young people — in their imagination, curiosity, and courage to ask difficult questions, for they represent both the present and the future of our societies Let this day be a space for learning, dialogue, and inspiration. Ask questions. Experiment. Collaborate. Challenge assumptions. And remember that each of you can make a difference, one story, one idea, one creative project at a time."
Hervé Lecoq, Deputy Head of Mission and Director of Political and Civil Affairs at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), noted:
"I am grateful for the resilience, enthusiasm, and dedication of the young women and men present today – their commitment to learning and spreading their awareness despite all challenges is truly inspiring and key in addressing misinformation-disinformation."
The youth day witnessed broad participation from university and school students, civil society representatives, content creators, and journalists, where artificial intelligence, media, and creativity met in one space for learning, experience, and change.
The program featured TED-style talks delivered by young journalists and content creators, including Ritaj Zaknoun, Michel Daoud, Rachelle Karam, Halima Tabiah, and Lana Medawar, who shared their experiences in creating purposeful content and their success stories in navigating digital journeys in the era of artificial intelligence while combating misinformation.
The day also included a session titled "Voices of Change," which brought together young people from various sectors (NGOs, students, media professionals, content creators, and local communities) to present their initiatives and ideas on the role of responsible media in countering misinformation and raising awareness.
In the practical segment, participants engaged in interactive workshops covering topics such as content creation and filming techniques, cybersecurity, creating AI-based awareness videos, and effective public speaking skills to counter disinformation.
The day concluded with the awards ceremony for the Best Awareness Video Competition on combating misinformation and hate speech, honoring the winners Mahmoud Badran, Maysa Atwi and Ali Hammoud for their creativity in using media as a tool for positive change.
This dynamic initiative reflects UNESCO's ongoing commitment to empowering new generations with media awareness tools, fostering critical thinking, and building a more conscious and cohesive digital society in Lebanon.
