EU and UNESCO collaborate to strengthen youth media and information literacy skills

Students at Sukainah Bint Al Hussein Secondary School in Zarka are passionate about media and information literacy. Twice a week, fifteen girls enthusiastically take part in the Media Information Literacy Club, led by teachers Ms. Samar Souleman and Ms. Souad Ahmed.

The European Union funded and UNESCO implemented “Youth Empowerment” project represents a timely response to promoting the safe and ethical use of media and the internet. The project works to advance Media Information Literacy (MIL) as a holistic response to fostering the informed use, consumption and production of media and internet among youth in Jordan. This initiative is being carried out in partnership with the Minister of State for Media Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the media community and civil society in Jordan.

Earlier this year, UNESCO offered an intensive MIL Master Training to 43 teachers and principals. The workshop was conducted in partnership with Media Diversity Institute (London) and Jordan Media Institute (JMI). Trainees from Irbid, Zarqa and Ma’an gathered at JMI for four days, as expert trainers delivered an intensive workshop designed to enhance knowledge of MIL principles and equip participants with the tools to pass along their newfound MIL expertise to youth across Jordan.

Ms. Samer and Ms. Souad were thrilled to be part of the training and eagerly returned to Zarka with a vision for their MIL club. “We are honored that our school has been selected to have an MIL club. Through the club, we feel we are creating leaders who know the difference between what is right and what is wrong”, shares Ms. Samer. “The students who have joined the club are clever and generally have quite strong personalities. For these girls, the MIL curriculum is empowering and further encourages them to speak their minds”.

Nadine, an enthusiastic club member, explains how the group is encouraged to think critically when engaging with media. “We are in the midst of a digital revolution and strong MIL skills are more important than ever. In the future, we will be the ones – perhaps not as journalists but at least as citizen journalists – bringing stories and news to the world”.

Headmistress Ms. Yousra Khrisha is proud of her school and pleased with the addition of the club. “Our school is known as an environment that is conducive to learning and is producing global thinkers. The MIL club reinforces this and is a safe space for students to explore ideas”.

The MIL clubs operate with the aim of equipping students with stronger critical thinking skills and the ability to digest and produce media ethically. For some of the participants, this has helped them to shape their vision for the future and peaked their interest in working in media. “I want to be a journalist as a result of this club. I know now how to take a picture properly and how to practice skepticism when developing a story”, reveals Rawan.

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