Group photo Of MAJaC officials and Their Partners At The launch Of YoMIL
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC) has officially launched the Young Women Media and Information Literacy Initiative (YoMIL), a transformative project aimed at empowering young women in The Gambia’s media sector. This project is spearheaded by the Rog Agency for Open Cultural and Critical Transformation, a Berlin-based organization committed to peacebuilding and knowledge access.
Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development with a budget of €145,975, this one-year project seeks to address the gender gap in media by equipping 280 young women from all seven regions of The Gambia with crucial media literacy skills. These women will be empowered to raise their voices, actively contribute to democratic processes, and challenge gender inequalities within their communities.
In her welcoming remarks, YoMIL Gambia Project Manager Meita Touray provided an overview of the initiative, highlighting plans to develop the first-ever young women’s media guide.
“The project will train 280 young women in media and civil society organizations across all the regions on digital literacy, advocacy analysis and critical thinking, among other thematic areas. This will boost their confidence to speak freely and add their voices to the conversation around equity and women empowerment,”she said.
Touray added that the project team would collaborate with expert trainers and editors to produce a comprehensive media guide for young women in the industry. This guide will be unveiled at the first National Women’s Media Summit Conference, where it will be shared with women media workers across The Gambia.
“The summit is designed to serve as a pioneering platform that highlights and tackles gender disparities in the Gambian media landscape; it will foster networking mentorship and strategic development among women media professionals, students and key stakeholders”she added. In her keynote address, Nenneh Macdoll Gaye, Chairperson of the Access to Information Commission, emphasized the role of media and information in promoting gender equality in The Gambia. She also touched on the challenges women face.
“You will all agree with me that gender equality is fundamental to any country’s development agenda, likewise, you will agree that the media is one of the most powerful tools to promote gender equality. Let’s pause for a moment and think about all the positivity of gender equality. It contributes to social development as it allows equal access to health care, education, and community support such as loans, agricultural input, and literacy support, among others. It builds sustainable development and economic growth,” she highlighted.
She emphasized that gender equality helps combat poverty and fosters positive collaboration within families and communities.
Amie Bojang Sissoho, the Director of Press at the Office of the President, praised the project, calling it timely and aligned with current needs.
She also highlighted that while we live in an age of social media influencers, it’s important to recognize that social media isn’t always a positive space. Not all users are mindful of the impact their content can have on people’s relationships.
“There is a need for Media information literacy skills to take advantage of the benefits of technology in modern society. Media Information literacy advances the ability to express opinions using various media platforms and enhances the right to access information, giving women the opportunity to use Media information literacy responsibly,” she said.
She added that young women trained in media literacy can access, share, and control information effectively, positioning themselves as change agents in their communities, saying, “As we are aware, modern-day communication is affected by the advancement of technology, allowing young women to take advantage of technology to enhance information literacy and assert their abilities and skills to speak up and tell their stories.”
She highlighted that young women in the media have the power to shape narratives and challenge stereotypes about women and their roles in the industry.
James Badjie, Director of Training at the Media Academy for Journalism and Communications (MAJaC), expressed that their team is committed to collaborating with partners to ensure the project’s success. He added that by conducting training across all seven regions of The Gambia and engaging young women, they aim to shape the future of media in the country.
“I believe that the success of this project will not only be measured by the outcomes we achieve but also by the lasting impact it will have on our communities, especially the young women who will rise as empowered current and future media practitioners,” he said.
Media and Information Literacy aims to empower individuals by fostering critical thinking and encouraging an inquiry-based approach to media and the content they consume.
As part of this initiative, the project will release The Gambia’s first Young Women’s Media Guide, complemented by an offline app for digital access. Additionally, the project will host The Gambia’s inaugural Women in Media Conference, set to take place in May 2025.