Celebrating Cultural Diversity for Peace: The Peace Weavers’ Cultural Day Journey

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Celebrating Cultural Diversity for Peace: The Peace Weavers’ Cultural Day Journey

Peace Weavers are community youth leaders selected from diverse backgrounds in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. Their mission is to promote peace both online and offline. Offline, they work to foster peace in their communities, neighborhoods, and beyond, while also promoting cultural diversity.

The Peace Weavers’ cultural day on November 8, 2024, was a vibrant celebration of Cameroon’s extraordinary diversity and an important step in promoting unity and peace. By showcasing the country’s rich tapestry of ethnic traditions, the event highlighted not just the beauty of Cameroon’s 240+ ethnic groups, but also the power of inclusion and understanding in both the workplace and broader community.

The theme, “Embracing Cultural Diversity by Celebrating and Integrating Diverse Traditions in the Workplace and Community“, was a timely and important call for recognizing the value of cultural differences. Cameroon, often called “Africa in Miniature” for its wide range of ethnic, linguistic, and ecological diversity, provided the perfect backdrop for such an event. From the rhythmic traditional dances to the delicious local dishes, the event fostered an appreciation for the traditions that define each community, while also stressing the importance of creating spaces where these cultures can coexist harmoniously.

The Peace Weavers, by organizing this cultural day, not only celebrated these rich traditions but also created a platform for dialogue and mutual respect. In today’s increasingly globalized world, initiatives like this are crucial for fostering collaboration across cultural divides. By integrating diverse traditions into both the workplace and local communities, organizations and individuals can contribute to building stronger, more peaceful, and inclusive societies.

The event served as a powerful reminder that peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the active recognition and celebration of what makes each culture unique. Through such gatherings, Cameroon is making strides in weaving together its many threads of identity into a more unified and peaceful future.

The goal of the celebration was to honor and appreciate the unique cultures that contribute to peace, development, and sustainability in Cameroon. The event aimed to help participants realize that the true value lies not in the differences between cultures, but in what can be achieved when these cultures are embraced and celebrated. 

This initiative will empower youth leaders from the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon to share with their communities that cultural differences need not be a barrier, but rather a source of strength. Celebrating cultural diversity is important because it encourages unity, promotes understanding and tolerance, preserves cultural heritage, and contributes to peaceful coexistence within communities.

Cultural diversity encourages unity by bringing people from different backgrounds together to share and discover their common heritage. Through traditional dances, meals, clothing, and history, individuals can connect over shared values and experiences.

It also promotes understanding and tolerance. By embracing cultural diversity, people develop a greater understanding and appreciation for one another’s customs and traditions. This, in turn, fosters a spirit of tolerance, which can help build a #HateFreeCameroon—one of the key objectives of the youth leaders.

Another important aspect of celebrating culture is the preservation of cultural heritage. Through traditional music, dance, food, and arts, communities can grow closer as they celebrate these valuable traditions. Many of these practices have historical significance, and preserving them ensures that they are passed down to future generations.

Family photo of Peace Weavers with Hon. Ghejung Awunti & Mme Ngwe Millicent

The event was graced by a representative from the North West Regional Assembly, Hon. Ghejung Awunti, who urged the attendees to embrace their cultural heritage and use it as a tool for fostering unity within their communities. He highlighted the Regional Assembly’s commitment to peacebuilding through its Peace Development Initiative, which aligns with the work being done by the #PeaceWeavers. Hon. Awunti emphasized that through this initiative, the Assembly is open to supporting youth-led projects focused on community peace.

Hon. Ghejung Awunti, Commissioner for Economic Development At The North West Regional Assembly,

In the same vein, the regional coordinator of the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism Ngwe Millicent congratulated the youth for their efforts in building peace. She further emphasized that it is within the Commission’s mandate to combat Hate Speech and Xenophobia. She assured the youth that the Commission is willing to support such initiatives to ensure that peace and security are maintained in the region.

Mme Ngwe Millicent, Regional Coordinator of the NCPBM Bamenda

The Cultural Day was celebrated with the Peace Weavers showcasing various activities to highlight their traditions, which they hold dear.

The event began with the participants donning their beautiful cultural attire, proudly displaying their heritage in the presence of their guests. As they made their entrance, they were warmly welcomed by Mbuh Stella, who spoke about the concept of cultural heritage as a tool for mitigating hate speech within communities. She emphasized that while people may come from different tribes or backgrounds, this should not lead to division, and communities can live together harmoniously.

Mbuh Stella, Stakeholder Engagement at #defyhatenow

Another engaging discussion was led by Dr. Kinang Derick, who addressed the topic of “Promoting Cultural Diversity for Peacebuilding in Cameroon.” He concluded by reminding the participants that it doesn’t matter which community one identifies with; what truly matters is the shared humanity that unites us all. This common bond, he suggested, should be the foundation for working toward peace and safeguarding humanity.

Dr.Kinang Derick Conflict Research and Activity Implementation Coordinator.

The Peace Weavers then introduced themselves and shared with the participants how people are traditionally greeted in their communities. They also demonstrated the process of crowning an Ardo in the Mbororo community. One of the Peace Weavers, Abubakar Aliyu, was honored by being crowned the Ardo of the Peace Weavers Cohort 2.

Coronation of the Peace Weavers’ Ardo

In addition, they presented a sketch that illustrated how two cultures the Muslim and Christian communities are united through marriage.

Some of the Peace Weavers also shared their traditional meals, explaining how they are prepared. Mali Martha-Noel introduced a dish from Bali called Fufu Corn and Timtim, while Ngueubou Njantio Merveille and Meyanwieh Diana Queency  presented Achu with yellow soup, black soup, and  Kossam and Dakere were presented by Abubakar Aliyu and Naihibu Musa Ndemsah.

Testing of Fufu Corn and Timtim

The day was brought to a close with a vibrant dance performance by the Peace Weavers, marking the end of the Cultural Day celebrations.

Traditional Dance Display

Kanda Honourine, the coordinator of the Peace Weavers, wrapped up the event with a heartfelt thank you to both the guests and the Peace Weavers. She reminded everyone that diversity is not a barrier, but rather a powerful resource. When we recognize and celebrate our differences, it has the potential to foster greater unity and drive progress for all.

Kanda Honourine, Community Coordinator 

By the end of the Cultural Day celebration, most participants expressed their satisfaction and shared that they had learned a great deal from the experience. Here are some key takeaways from a few of the peace weavers:

  1. NDZI Etienne NGAH: The discussion on identity sparked diverse perspectives. Some believed it can change, while others argued it can only be modified. The resounding lesson: identity remains constant. Our true identity defines us, shaping our humanity. Embracing this essence fosters equality, freedom, and tolerance. When we recognize each other’s shared humanity, we build a world where:- Diversity is celebrated
  • Individuality is valued
  • Unity is strengthened

Let’s cherish our authentic selves and acknowledge the inherent worth of every human being.

  1. YANGOUE TETA FOZO: I was overwhelmed during our cultural Day at peace weavers cohort two session 2.The part that caught my attention was the closing, and we who left the place late fought to eat the various traditional meals that were prepared by various participants. I enjoyed the fufu corn brought by my #PeaceWeavers sister, Mali. Without forgetting the dance part where we all danced to traditional songs from the various tribes we come from. The joy we shared in those moments is just a clear example of what we will have if we kick out hate speech and embrace ourselves as humans.
  1. Lum Evi Claire Achem: The Cultural day was very interesting and educational. I had lived with Muslims but never known how the installed their rulers this cultural day gave me inside to this new knowledge which will help me much in my community programming

Civic Watch and UNESCO MGIEP carry a two day training of trainers on media literacy.

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Association Civic Watch is pleased to partner with UNESCO MGIEP to train journalists and content creators in media literacy. This partnership began with a delegation from India that joined the Civic Watch team in Douala, Cameroon, to kick off their first onsite training session. The Civic Watch team, led by Ngala Desmond Ngala, welcomed Dr. Obijiofor Aginam, Director of UNESCO MGIEP, along with Richa Bansal, Associate National Project Officer for SEL Youth Projects, and Anurag Deep, Associate National Project Officer for Digital Pedagogy Design. Together, they trained 40 participants in media literacy.

The two-day training, held from October 4th to 5th, focused on the theme “Media Literacy Course: Fostering a Cognitive Approach.” This training is particularly timely as Cameroon approaches its election period in 2025, a time characterised by a surge in information that often includes misinformation, fake news, and hate speech.

The training aims to equip participants to become active digital citizens capable of evaluating the effects of online behaviour. They will learn to identify messages online, assess the credibility of information sources, and distinguish between false information and fake news. This program will foster an emotional approach that participants can apply in their communities.

Richa Bansal and Anurag Deep, the main trainers, shared the focus of the training. They trained the Young Master Trainers on topics such as Media Literacy, Misinformation, Disinformation, Fake News, Fact-checking, Source Credibility, Media Bias, Hate Speech, Perspective Talk, and Critical Inquiry.

Participants identified as Young Master Trainers in Media Literacy will become trainers in their communities after the workshop. This is a unique aspect of the training, which aims to empower youth to navigate the social media landscape effectively. Participants also went through a Social Emotional Course, which will assist them in their community training.

At the end of the workshop, participants will receive certificates. Additionally, the training will continue online, with participants able to undergo free online training that also includes a certificate upon completion. Feel free to check out this link to take a course. https://mgiep.unesco.org/media-literacy . You can also visit this link to take any course of your choice here https://mgiep.unesco.org/ .

An interview provided further insights into the training and the partnership between the two organizations.

While in Douala on October 4, 2024, Civic Watch, led by Ngala Desmond, visited the MTN Douala office with members of UNESCO Yaoundé, Hugues Ndih, and Serge Bayembe, alongside Richa Bansal from UNESCO MGIEP. This visit aimed to discuss how collaboration between these entities could help promote effective communication while implementing Media and Information Literacy (MIL).

During Dr. Obijiofor Aginam’s visit to Yaoundé, he had the opportunity to meet some of Civic Watch’s partners. He visited the UNESCO Yaoundé office and met with the Cameroon National Youth Council, the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism (NCPBM), the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education, the Pan African Institute, the Protestant University, and the Advanced School of Mass Communication (ASMAC). They discussed how Media Literacy, Peace Education, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) courses can be implemented in institutions, schools, and media organizations in Cameroon.  

These efforts are promising for the future of implementing MIL and SEL courses in #Cameroon, as these skills are essential for building peaceful communities and bridging divides among young people, communities, religions, and tribes. Ultimately, the goal is to foster a #HateFreeCameroon through collective efforts from the government, private sector, civil society organisations, educational institutions, and international bodies. Civic Watch is determined to collaborate with partners to bridge these divides and promote social cohesion. 

Reaction from participants.

1- Tanta Patience: “ The key messages I took home from the just ended training on media and information literacy are, the importance of critically evaluating the sources and credibility of information we see and share on social media platforms. In this digital age, understanding how we effectively navigate, analyze, and share reliable media content is crucial to becoming informed as creators of information. Also, being empowered to combat misinformation and engage meaningfully with diverse perspectives. Also, being able to understand what we see on social media before reacting is of utmost importance ”.

2- Abubakar Aliyu: “ My key take-home message from the recent Media Information Literacy (MIL) training is the profound impact that media literacy has on our communities. I have learned some vital aspects, including: 

 Hate Speech Undermines Social Cohesion: It’s crucial to recognize how harmful language can fracture our communities and promote division. Addressing hate speech is essential for fostering unity and understanding.

Taking Sight is Media Bias: Understanding media bias helps us critically analyze the information we consume, enabling us to distinguish between objective reporting and subjective viewpoints. 

Clear Communication and Mindfulness Enhance Understanding: Effective communication is not just about conveying messages but also about being mindful of how those messages are received. This awareness can significantly improve our interactions and comprehension. 

Check the Information and Source Credibility: I’ve learned the importance of verifying facts and assessing the credibility of sources. This skill is essential in navigating today’s information landscape, where misinformation can easily spread. Additionally, I have gained new knowledge and skills that empower me to contribute positively to my community. Networking with many individuals from diverse backgrounds has been invaluable. We are all united in our goal to enhance media information literacy and train others in our communities. Together, we can create a more informed society that values critical thinking and responsible media consumption. I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned and to collaborate with others to scale up these essential skills”.

Civic Watch Cameroon and UNESCO MGIEP In Partnership for Sustainable Peace and Development

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In a move towards fostering peace, citizenship and sustainable development in Cameroon, Civic Watch Cameroon has taken a bold step ahead in a partnership with UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP). This collaboration aims to transform educational practices and cultivate a culture of peace and sustainability in Cameroon and beyond. The collaboration is geared at introducing Cameroonian youths to the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for Youth Waging Peace course. Thanks to its special focus on the role of education in addressing this challenge of the rise of extremist ideologies that can lead to violent extremism using a development and peacebuilding approach, youths will get a clearer understanding on peace building processes and how to handle different individuals with their different views and ideologies in their different communities. 

UNESCO MGIEP’ Vision

UNESCO MGIEP is known for its innovative approach to integrating peace, global citizenship, and sustainable development into educational frameworks. Their mission aligns closely with Civic Watch Cameroon’s goals of empowering communities and promoting civic engagement while addressing questions of incitement to violence, tolerance and peacebuilding in relation to social media. This partnership is set to leverage MGIEP’s expertise and resources to drive impactful change in Cameroon’s educational landscape and youths working in peacebuilding. 

Main Objectives of the Partnership

Some of the main objective of this partnership is: 

  1. Promoting Peace Education: Civic Watch Cameroon and MGIEP will work on encouraging youths and students to take this peace education course as it will  help them understand and practice non-violent conflict resolution and mutual respect. The Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for Youth Waging Peace course evokes in community leaders Wellbeing-Mental Health, Mindfulness, Empathy, Compassion, Critical Inquiry; Conflict Transformation, Peacebuilding, Prevention of Violent Extremism. These are traits that will help in addressing different issues encountered in different communities. Aside from building empathy,  the SEL course helps youths understand and manage their own emotions. By developing emotional awareness, young people will better handle conflicts and stress, which is beneficial for peaceful interactions. An example is Civic Watch carrying out peace activities in school and creating peace clubs in schools in Bamenda, Buea, Limbe, Moutengene, Douala, Yaounde, Bafoussam to educate students and pupils on the importance of creating peaceful environment in school and in their communities. 
  1. Improving Sustainable Development Goals : The partnership will focus on promoting SDGs in Cameroon and its training, this will ensure that participants are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to address global challenges like climate change, inequality, and resource management. The SEL course is important and beneficial because it will teach and equip you with conflict resolution and communication skills, which are essential for reducing violence and fostering peaceful interactions in your communities. The SEL encourages young people to understand and respect diverse perspectives, which is important for building inclusive communities. Through the training of Peace Weavers, Civic Watch has been able to train 50 community youth leaders who in turn go to their communities to share the importance of peace and resolving conflict through peaceful methods. 
  1. Fostering Global Citizenship: By emphasizing global citizenship, the collaboration aims to nurture a sense of responsibility and interconnectedness among Cameroonian youths, preparing them to contribute positively to a #HateFreeCameroon and a globalized world. It fosters a sense of responsibility towards others, including those from different countries and backgrounds, motivating young leaders to act in ways that benefit the entire community. This means that they have the interest of the community at heart. The beauty of this course is that it addresses the need to build a sustainable diverse and multicultural community which is the aim of Civic Watch Cameroon, building a #HateFreeCommunity. Just as Civic Watch entails, it calls on all citizens to be 
  1. Leveraging Technology for Education: MGIEP’s expertise in educational technology will be used to promote learning experiences, making learning more accessible and engaging through digital tools and innovative methods. This means that at the end of the course, young leaders will acquire communication skills that can be applied to digital platforms, such as video conferencing, collaborative documents, and discussion forums. This will help work effectively virtually  while navigating online interactions respectfully. Social Media Literacy is not left out. Given that social media is one of the channels where hate speech and incitement to violence is mostly propagated, the SEL course can improve the skills of peacebuilders on how to use social media responsibly and constructively, understanding the impact of their online behavior. As well as the dangerous effects if they use social media wrongly. Civic Watch uses technology to build peace. Through it’s recent #Tech4Peace fellowship, 15 youths are being trained how to use their technology skills to promote peace on social media and community. It also runs a Tech4Peace monthly series, #CyberSmart, where it shares with its online community the role digital technology can play in building peace and resolving conflict. 
  1. Promote Media Literacy: One of the advantages of the Social Emotional Learning course is that it fosters critical thinking skills that enable students, journalists, peace builders to question and analyze the credibility and reliability of information they encounter in the media. They we have the #defyhatenow #ThinkB4UClick attitude, and it will prevent them from sharing #FakeNews, #Misinformation, #Disinformation and #Malinformation which are all vices of inciting violent actions in a community or country. The course can help youths identify biases and aspects in media content, and it promotes a better understanding of news and information. It helps media professionals as well as peace builders to become more informed, thoughtful, and responsible consumers and producers of information. Through the #Meadi4Peace program and the Africa Factchecking Fellowship (AFFCameroon), journalists, content creators and bloggers are trained on how to report in time of conflict and verify information before communication to the public. 
  1. Help In Conflict Resolution: Conflict resolution is a process by which two or more parties use to find a peaceful solution to their dispute. Taking this course will help you acquire skills of resolving conflict peacefully. Thanks to the SEL course, peacebuilders will gain collaborative problem-solving skills. They will  work together to identify solutions that address the needs and concerns of all parties / communities involved. With collaborative and joint efforts, peacebuilders will find innovative ways to resolve conflicts. Civic Watch works with CSOs, Youth Lead Organizations that are trained with the #defyhatenow hate speech mitigation field Guide on how to resolve conflict via peaceful methods. 

Impact on Communities

For Civic Watch Cameroon, this partnership represents a unique opportunity to enhance their existing programs and initiatives. By integrating MGIEP’s courses and resources, they will be able to provide more effective training for community leaders, educators, youth leaders, students,  create engaging learning materials, and implement community-based projects that resonate with  the needs of communities.

The collaboration is also aimed at building capacity among community youth leaders , equipping them with the skills and knowledge to train / educate, sensitize in their communities as well as online on  peace and sustainability. This  will in turn contribute to a more informed and active Cameroonian youths capable of driving positive social change.

As Civic Watch Cameroon and UNESCO MGIEP embark on this exciting journey, the partnership promises to bring about meaningful progress in the realms of education and community development. Through collaborative efforts, they hope to set a precedent for how international cooperation can address local and global challenges through education.

Stay tuned for updates as this partnership unfolds and continues to make strides towards a more peaceful and sustainable future for Cameroon.

This is another action carried out by Civic Watch in response to mitigating Violent action and creating a portal for youths to impact their communities by bringing possible solutions to conflict situations and promoting social cohesion. 

Kindly fill this registration form to enroll for the course. Register Here

Training ofPeace Weavers for Civic Action in Cameroon 2024

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In setting the agenda of public discourse by raising awareness on the issues of hate speech, responsible social media use and conflict reduction, Civic Watch believes in the key role young people play in community peace building in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. These ills are obstacles to social cohesion and peace in Cameroon. Re-assessing the impact and engagement of youths to the present social dynamics to propose solutions is key in these regions.

The #defyhatenow initiative in Cameroon acknowledges the need to engage in preventive mechanisms against hate speech and incitement to violence both online and offline. Hence, these trainings (in-person) shall host 30 youth leaders who live in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon to discuss the rise of this scourge and its negative impact on social cohesion and community development in these conflict hit regions. The trainings shall be under the theme 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗭𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀. This activity is in line with the objectives of #defyhatenow which seeks to combat online and offline hate speech and incitement to violence, by prioritizing early warning and early action while building on preventive approaches to community peace building for social cohesion in Cameroon.

Register here

WORLD PEACE DAY 2023

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The United Nations international peace day is celebrated every 21st September in order to strengthen the ideals of peace, by observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Civic Watch Cameroon, a non governmental organization working to counter online and offline hate speech, incitement to violence and violent extremism, join the world to commemorate this day through radio talks and an onsite activity.

Hatespeech and Xenophobia are ills that are gradually tearing communities apart rather than they are uniting them. Aware of the dangers of hate speech and xenophobia online as well as offline,  Association Civic Watch Cameroon, a non governmental organization in partnership with the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism organized events aimed at reaching out to the population of the North West Region with messages on peace building and leaving together. These were in commemoration of the 2023 International Day for Peace under the theme “Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals”.

 Civic Watch carried out activities in different Divisions in the North West Region. They carried out radio programs targeting the populations of: Menchum Division through the  Wum Community Radio; Bui Division via the City Community Radio Kumbo in commemoration of World peace day. The radio programs were based on creating awareness in communities on the need to mitigate Hate Speech and Xenophobia, the different forms of hate speech. These radio programs were carried out by Ngala Desmond, president of Civic Watch, Kanda Honourine and Mbuh Stella. 

In the same light, Civic Watch joined the United Youth Organisation Bamenda to share with participants on the dangers of hate speech and xenophobia.The Association’s North West regional coordinator, Kanda Honourine shared with participants on the dangers of hate speech and xenophobia. She stressed on the need for all to take part in combating the ills eating the communities negatively and stand as one to build a #HateFreeCameroon. It was during the engage for peace festival organized by the United Youth Organization with over 500 young persons  in attendance.

Mobilising Youth Leaders to Counter HateSpeech and Conflict in Crisis Zones

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The recent rise in the wave of socio-political turmoil, armed conflicts and other social tensions witnessed in Cameroon; as well as the affluence of ethnic hate, especially online poses real life risk of widespread violence and abuse. Civic Watch thus saw the need to have peace waivers in the communities of the North West and South West Regions to monitor  actions taken both online and offline which have the tendency to compromise peaceful co-existence. 

The Anglophone crisis, in addition to the inter-community and inter-religious conflicts, has for some years been exacerbating tensions between communities and the frustrations that perpetuate the cycle of hate and violence in these communities. To reduce hate speech and violence in these regions, our aim is to bring together young leaders so that they can be the weavers of peace and implement innovative strategies to reduce the level of frustration, tension and hate within their communities.

A three-day bootcamp shall be organized with the aim of enforcing 30 youth leaders’ capacities to raise awareness on the dangers of hate speech and violence both online and offline. These youths hail from the affected crisis zones and they master the realities of their communities. They will therefore be better placed to take actions to reduce the prominence of online and offline violence and hate speech. The selected youths will be trained on how to mitigate online hate speech, online provocation and online incitement to violence. The  social media code of conduct shared with them, will serve as a guide as they engage  online as well as  while working with individuals in their communities.  

The discussion during this training will be on  the crisis and its negative impact on social cohesion and community development in these conflict-hit regions. It will be under the theme: Mobilising Youth Leaders to Counter HateSpeech and Conflict in Crisis Zones. The youths coming from different cultural and religious backgrounds will help them discover the different cultures and be able to identify themselves in one another. The cross-cultural exchange and dialogue around conflict resolution will give them a wide scoop of how to tackle the different forms of hate speech and violent attacks they will have to resolve in their communities. 

The specific objectives during this training are; 

  • To encourage  intercultural mixing among young people, thereby promoting inter-community tolerance and acceptance of others (through 2 bootcamps)
  • To encourage  cross-community and inter-religious dialogue between community and religious leaders to promote their commitment to combating hate speech and violence.
  • To implement awareness-raising and empowerment campaigns to meet local needs (Education – Health – Socio-professional integration)

At the end of this bootcamp, Civic Watch Cameroon hopes to impact these youths and obtain positive outcomes such as: 

  • Building sustainable and peaceful communities through social cohesion
  •  Increasing understanding of the causes of the conflict and the importance of peacebuilding and reconciliation.
  • Improving inter-community relations and social cohesion.
  •  Drawing up a roadmap containing the major actions and responsibilities to prevent and combat hate speech in the North West and South West regions.
  •  Promoting social cohesion and sustainable development in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. The youth will also help to promote the importance of peacebuilding and reconciliation as a way to address these root causes and build a more peaceful future.
  •  Having these youths go back to their communities and do restitutions

After the training, these youth leaders will go to their communities and educate them on the importance of a peaceful coexistence and the need to tolerate one another’s differences in order to obtain a #HateFreeCommunity, and a #HateFreeCameroon. 

Bamako (Mali): Civic Watch Shares Attends Forum on Digital Security & Social Cohesion 

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Recognised for its leading role in promoting #SafeDigitalSpaces through the #defyhatenow initiative in Cameroon, the Regional meeting aimed to share our experience with other countries.

Civic Watch is currently taking part in a two day Forum on Digital Security and Social Cohesion in Bamako, Mali. This invitation of Meta is coming after  a 3 day training that took place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in August 2022 with key digital actors of french speaking Africa States using ICT to mitigate violence and hate for peace  The training was organized by Meta and Search for Common Ground, with the aim of building digital peace in Africa. In continuation of the project, organizations met in Mali, for the Bamako Forum on Digital Security and Social Cohesion.

The Bamako Forum brought together researchers, civil society actors, policy markers, and digital and social cohesion experts, among them Civic Watch, represented by Tchiengue Donald, #defyhatenow Digital Project Coordinator. The Forum aims at examining ways of amplifying the analyses and experience of African scholars and civil society actors in order to support policy decision making in the face of increased fueling of conflicts and polarization, ills that come with the misuse of social media platforms. The forum is a stitch in time as it will lead to the creation of a platform for exchange, dialogue, and planning to build a sustainable partnership in research and advocacy on digitalization, conflicts, and social cohesion in the Sahel area. That way, there will be a better followup by the members for the development of Africa. 

The forum is intended to be a starting point for regional initiatives to tackle online challenges to peace and social cohesion in the Sahel area. To this end, with the support of Meta, an online campaign named #TamTam2Paix will be launched in the coming days with several digital actors from Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad and Cameroon to amplify the messages of peace and togetherness in the light of current socio-political and geopolitical stakes. 

Africa is experiencing  a rapid growth in internet access which allows population access to social media which has become risky to its consumers due to the kind of information shared. There is a need to create awareness on the dangers surrounding the irresponsible use of these digital tools which are often used in; fueling conflicts and polarization, spreading of fake news, incitement to violence, extremist exploitation of digital tools, and the fueling of hate speech on social media, thus affecting social cohesion and stability across the region.

It is important to note that despite these disadvantages faced, the internet has positive sides that can be explored for sustainable peace and social cohesion. Hence the forum is for policymakers to better understand the links between digital tool access and conflicts. The Bamako Forum was established with the aim of fostering a lasting partnership between African scholars and practitioners to support National, Regional, and International policies regarding emerging digital issues. Emerging from consultations in the Sahel and West Africa involving various regional actors. The initiative encourages cross-sector collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers who will combine their efforts to ensure the mitigation of these vices that are disturbing the peace and social cohesion in the African continent. During the forum the participants recognized the profoundly transformative power of ICT and its significance impact on lives and are therefore committed to follow principles and objectives stated in the Bamako Declaration of Digital and Social Cohesion of September 20,2023.

As part of Civic Watch’s mandate which is to reduce conflict online and offline, it is a milestone in joining other stakeholders in Africa to make Africans aware of the instabilities brought about by the misuse of digital tools. It will be more to reiterate to social media users the need to #ThinkBUClick while browsing so as to stop fake news, hate speech and violent extremism via the use of digital tools. 

HOW TO RESPOND TO HATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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Online hate speech is a hateful post that takes place online with the aim of attacking or stigmatizing an individual or group of persons based on their gender, identity traits or beliefs. The attack could be directed to their country of origin, tribe, race, religion or political views.

Social media nowadays has become a place where many feel they can pour out anything they feel like saying to anyone. Some go for fun, others for entertainment while others go just to insult and downgrade others. These online bullying, harassing could lead to mental health problems like trauma. Online hate has lots of negative consequences that may affect a whole community if measures are not taken to reduce the flame. Memories of the 2018 post-electoral tensions in Cameroon, which were exacerbated by the spread of tribal hate messages online are still vivid. 

Many find social media platforms as a place where they can insult, harass people and promote hate. This does not mean it is right and we should not be bystanders. There are great ways to approach such persons and sensitize them. We can do that through online campaigns, share some tips with them, and use hashtags to make our message go viral.

While we are trying to eradicate the wild spread of #HateSpeech, #Misinformation, #Disinformation, Violent extremism online and offline in our communities, we need to mind the tone in which we are passing our message. If we respond to #Hate with hate, we increase hate in our community. We learnt from Martin Luther King that “Hate cannot drive out hate, only LOVE can do that”. 

Choose to #ACT4Peace today! 

You cannot correct someone by insulting them, if you do so they will not learn. They will instead increase their actions and find ways to bring you down. There are a few things you can do to help curb the spread of online hate: 

  1. The first thing you need to do is to ACT 
  2. You can invite them to join you,  engage in empathic and peace building conversations online.
  3. Educate them on the dangers of #HateSpeech both online and offline, e.g. it can lead to acts of #Violence in our communities.
  4. You can respond to #HateSpeech by posting something that promotes #Peace. You can undermine hateful content with positive messages that spread tolerance, equality and truth in defense of those being targeted by hate.
  5. While trying to build peace, mind you that all cultures are to be respected. Do not use a culture negatively in trying to prove a point. 
  6. You can use hashtags like; #Act4Peace, #NoToHate, #NoToHateSpeech, #WeStandTogether, #HateFreeCameroon, #defyhatenow etc.

Thank you for reading this piece and please share with us ways you think we can respond to online hate without spurring people’s anger, more hurtful words and violence.  If we do not act now, online hate will spread its wings so wide that we will not be able to mitigate it. 

To learn more on how to champion peace initiatives in your community, we invite your to read or download free copies of the #defyhatenow Social Media Hate Speech Mitigation Field Guide

Social Media Hate Speech Mitigation Field Guide, Cameroon , Second Edition 2021

#defyhatenow

#SafeDigitalSpaces

#HateFreeCameroon

Back to school 2022-2023 : #HateFreeSchools in Cameroon

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Civic Watch in its implementation of the #defyhatenow initiative works to counter, mitigate #HateSpeech, violent extremism both online and offline in Cameroon. We equally work to empower youths to become peace building leaders in their school environment and communities.

This coming back to school 2022-2023 academic year, Civic Watch will accompany students with the aid of their teachers for a #HateFreeSchool. It is our aim to build these students with moral values, inculcate the habit of tolerance, a peaceful coexistence and living together. The past three years have recorded an increase of violence in school milieus. Reports of students stabbing peers and teachers, indulging in sexual immorality on campus and others involved in sharing nude videos online. In addition, the two English speaking regions of Cameroon have been timid with schooling in the past years due to the Anglophone conflict. Students fear they might become a target and lose their lives for going to school. Schools burnt down by unidentified men who threaten the lives of those who dare to go to school. Statistics published by Human Right Watch show that an estimated number of 700 000 children have been out of school between the year 2017 and 2021. This is one of the major reasons that Civic Watch Cameroon calls for an active and collective back to school campaign. 

depict the dire situation of children of school going age based in the conflict-struck regions

We will print out posters, print design pictures of peace and they will be posted in the school campuses, we will as well share with them the content of the #defyhatenow Hate Speech Mitigation Field Guide; like, the importance of peace, living together, tolerance and the dangers of violence, hate speech online and offline. In the end of this #HateFreeSchool Campaign, we will be sure of inculcating the spirit of building peace, importance of living together and giving them basic skills of mitigating hate speech in their schools and communities. We will want the students to realize that they need #PenNotGun to build a good and prosperous future for them and #HateFreeCameroon. This will help to fosters peace in #Cameroon and our society.

Civic Watch team will visit primary, secondary and university schools to have a talk with them. Other relay team members based in the North West and South West regions will visit schools there and have a talk with the students and pupils on the need of building a #HateFreeSchool for a brighter future. We begin from the primary level so that while growing they will know the importance of peace, acceptance and tolerance in their communities. They will learn that despite their difference in tribe, class, and religion, there is no difference between them. Their difference complements each one of them to make them stronger together. They will understand that without one of them they are weak. 

While going on the field to talk with the students, we will equally share with them online because we know that many students are online. The aim is to reach out to as many students as 1000. If many share, students will learn to be careful online. They will #ThinkB4TheyClick, the spread of hate speech will reduce and the rate of violence in our schools will reduce as well. This is to make students conscious and join the spreading love and mitigate hate in their classes and communities. That is why we urge you to defy hate NOW. 

Join the campaign of building hate free schools by using these hashtags on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc; 

#HateFreeSchools

#PenNotGun

#Youth4Peace

#Teens4Peace

#PeaceInMySchool

#NoToHateSpeech

Africa Fact Checking Fellowship “Special Grand Nord”.

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AFFCameroon is a program that is run by Civic Watch and its partner defyhatenow. Its aim is to train journalists, bloggers and content creators to be able to fight against online #FakeNews, #Misinformation, #Disinformation, by #Factchecking information both online and offline.  The program is aimed at cultivating the skills needed for creating a healthy and safe online experience for all social media users, making a safe place void of toxic ideas, hate speech, misinformation, disinformation and fake news which fan flames of violence. In the  past years, we have Civic Watch and defyhatenow had trained fellows from different parts of Cameroon, that is; North West, South West hit by the Anglophone conflict, West, Center, Littoral hosting most internally displaced persons from Cameroon. 

This year, we went to the Northern region of Cameroon. The Far North has been facing violent attacks from Boko Haram in the past years and is equally faced with inter-tribal conflicts. Thus we saw the need to create awareness in this part of the country. We saw the need to make those of that region involved and part of #Cameroon that is not forgotten. That is why AFFCameroon in this part was termed “Special Grand Nord”, this is because we needed people who know and master the realities of this region. 

#AFFCameroon ‘Special Grand Nord’ Session , foreground is the trainer Mr. Paul Joel Kamtchang

Garoua hosted AFFCameroon for its first time and the training ran for two days, 28th and 29th of April 2022. 15 fellows were selected and they answered present to discover the new world they were about to embark on. These fellows were; 8 from Garoua, 5 from Ngaoundere and 2 Maroua. The trainer was Paul Joel Kamtchang who took them through; the world internet world, introduction to fact checking, methodology for writing Social Media Health Report (SMHR), working group on SMHR and meet up, fact checking reporting and fact checking topics. The first session was all about introduction, making them discover the fact checking world, identify fact checking topics, how to write fact checking reports and SMHR.
`After the first session, the fellows showed their delight and were more eager to discover the techniques and mechanisms of fact checking. Their training will run for three sessions, April, May and June. The next session will be in May 2022.