Promoting civic engagement of youth and women for democracy and peacebuilding in Cameroon

Activity progress:

On February 22, 2024, NYEMB Anne, co-founder of the Digital For future Education (DIFEDUC) association, took part in a workshop on civic engagement and peacebuilding in Cameroon, organized by the Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa(REDHAC).
The aim of the workshop was to train young people and women in civic awareness.
It was an opportunity for participants to acquire knowledge and skills in the field of citizenship. Around thirty people took part.

What impact for the DIFEDUC association?

For DIFEDUC, this workshop was of particular importance, as learning about digital citizenship in particular will raise awareness and encourage positive, responsible behavior in our environment.

What can we learn from these exchanges?

It’s important to understand that civic engagement and civic awareness are challenges, especially in the digital age.
Digital technology has transformed the landscape of civic engagement and civic awareness, opening up new opportunities and challenges for citizen participation.
Here are just a few of the benefits of digital technology for civic engagement:
– Greater accessibility: Digital enables more people to get involved in causes that interest them, regardless of where they live or their socio-economic situation.
– Mobilization platforms: Numerous online platforms enable citizens to connect, organize and take collective action.
– Powerful communication tools: Social networks and other online communication tools enable citizens to share information, raise awareness and put pressure on decision-makers.
– New forms of participation: Digital technology has given rise to new forms of civic engagement, such as cyberactivism, crowdsourcing and online voting.
However, digital also presents certain challenges for civic engagement:
– Digital divide: Unequal access to the Internet and digital technologies can exclude certain groups from civic participation.
– Disinformation and propaganda: The spread of false information and propaganda online can undermine confidence in democratic institutions and processes.
– Harassment and cyberbullying: Engaged citizens online can experience harassment and cyberbullying, which can deter participation.
– Data manipulation and surveillance: Companies and governments can collect and use personal data to manipulate political opinions and voter behavior.

Best practices for every citizen:

– Stay informed: Keep up to date on the issues that interest you by reading reliable sources of information and following civic organizations on social networks.
– Connect with others: Join online or in-person groups that share your values and interests.
– Take action: Participate in civic actions such as petitions, demonstrations or awareness campaigns.
– Support civic organizations: Donate to organizations working on issues you care about, or volunteer your time.
– Be a responsible digital citizen: Use social networks to share accurate and respectful information, and report harmful or misleading content.

In conclusion:

Civic engagement and civic awareness are essential to a healthy democracy. By harnessing the power of digital, we can all help create a fairer, more equitable world.