This year’s conference, co-organised by Build Up and Climate Conflict Action, is taking place in Manila, Philippines from November 14-16, 2024 under the theme “Pushing Frontiers, From the Ground Up“, 

The main objective of Build Peace 2024 is to spark new thinking and collaborations in the field of peacebuilding. By pushing the frontiers and exploring new approaches, this conference aims to inspire participants to think outside the box and challenge traditional methods of conflict resolution. Through interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from each other and gain new insights into how to build peace from the ground up. The conference will also focus on the role of innovation in peacebuilding. With the rapid advancements in technology, there is a growing need to explore how these innovations can be used for peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Attendees will have the chance to learn about cutting-edge technologies and their potential applications in peacebuilding efforts. 

In addition to addressing these crucial topics, Build Peace 2024 will also showcase transformative practices that have been successful in promoting peace and reducing conflict. By highlighting these practices, the conference hopes to inspire attendees to implement similar initiatives in their own communities and contribute to building sustainable peace.

Prior to our presentation at Build peace, we had some working sessions at the MOLD space to make sure that the BrailleRAP was good to present, especially adding the PH version to the project.   

Three days of interactive workshops

The most public aspect of Build Peace is a conference event; it is an interdisciplinary space that runs for three full days, gathering around 300 people annually. Participants come from more than 60 different countries, working in national and international NGOs, the UN system, academic institutions, civil society organisations, grassroots organizing and the private sector. This year, attendees will learn and be skilled on a variety of topics on technology facilitated responses to technology facilitated violence, discovering the intersectionality of conflict and climate, creating mediation spaces to discuss peace building and security, connecting displaced, migrant and conflict survivors to the Internet to learn using the power of self-organization.

r0g_agency for open culture and critical transformation in conjunction with the #defyhatenow team from Cameroon and local Manila ‘makers’ are leading the workshop: “BrailleRap: Creating Community Technologies for Inclusive Peacebuilding” on November 15, 2024. They will focus on presenting a BrailleRAP and leveraging the power of open source hardware for more effective peacebuilding! BrailleRAP is a community accessible Braille embosser (printer) – a digitally controlled machine helping to lower the barrier for visually impaired peacebuilders. Stephen Kovats of r0g_agency, joined by Cameroonian #defyhatenow activists Angaama Joy Amba and Ndum Vianney Forewah, along with Singapore based open cultures entrepreneur and critical maker Saad Chinoy, will demonstrate and show how to build and maintain a BrailleRAP device. Saad, who mentored a group of Manila-based open hardware makers from the MOLD Makerspace, in building a BrailleRap device in the run-up to the conference, will join the team in showcasing the crucial need for inclusion of disabled persons in conflict mitigation, providing an opportunity to strengthen a growing network of inclusive peacebuilding makers. Good news! You can find the BrailleRap device described in full, with links to the open source files and means to build your own device at https://www.braillerap.org/ For the version being developed for #defyhatenow, and the initial prototype built in Manila, you can access the interface to type Brallie now live on the defyhatenow.org server through a click here: https://braillerap.defyhatenow.org/ 

Learn more on the different presentations to be done at the conference here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Kc498qEDHsC76Y7lVwqgtnZykfC3xw9CiBXA1tqPOn8/edit?tab=t.0 

About Us and the Co-organisers  of Build Peace

r0g_agency for Open Culture and Critical Transformation gGmbH

r0g_agency works with grassroots, governmental, and international organizations often to bridge gaps between policy and tangible action on the ground. r0g_agency collaborates with communities in the equatorial regions of Africa and Southeast Asia. Currently most of r0g_agency’s activities are in collaboration with communities and organizations in the Republic of South Sudan, Uganda, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, and The Gambia. https://openculture.agency/ 

#defyhatenow Cameroon

In collaboration with the Association Civic Watch, #defyhatenow works on providing community-based and data-driven solutions to the problem of hate speech, disinformation and misinformation. Our work focuses on creating a framework for increasing trust between stakeholders through mobilizing civic action against all forms of hate speech and incitement to violence. This initiative seeks to support the voices and actions of citizens working against online induced conflict within and outside affected regions by bringing youth, community leaders, grassroots organizations and further civil society stakeholders into a peace-oriented media and information literacy framework. Bridging gaps of knowledge and awareness of social media mechanisms between those with access to technology and those without, #defyhatenow is a growing network of online and offline peacebuilders. https://defyhatenow.org/about/ 

Build Up

It is an organisation that transforms conflict in the digital age. At the intersection of peacebuilding and technology, Build Up uses new tools for old problems, and old tools for new problems. They implement programs, conduct research, and develop technical solutions to engage with conflict and build societies in which everyone can thrive. They work on emergent challenges to peace in the digital age and emergent opportunities to transform conflict with digital technologies. They equally hold spaces within the peacebuilding community for conversations and contributions to collectively learn how to build peace in the digital age through action, reflection and iteration and they conduct research and provide policy recommendations on using technology to build peace and how to address emergent challenges to peace in the digital age.

Follow us on our social media platforms for updates on the developments of the three days workshop. To follow them and remain updated on the next sessions or other related opportunities visit them here: https://howtobuildpeace.org/about-build-peace/ 

Climate Conflict Action (CCAA)

The Climate Conflict Action is an independent non-governmental organization that gathers and analyses climate and conflict data to collaborate with communities towards actions that lead to sustainable peace. Providing climate and conflict data through their  interoperable tools that create robust and insightful reports on communities affected by climate and conflict risks. They collaborate with local communities to monitor, analyze, and understand conflict, peace, and development dynamics in the Philippines to inspire actions and solutions that promote peace and security. To know more and access comprehensive data on conflict monitoring, not just climate induced conflict but also civil conflict and how it has affected the country since 2011 to 2020 read more here: https://conflictalert.info/. You can also know learn about their EWER systems and mapping here: https://conflictalert.info/data-and-mapping/cems

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Sincere appreciation to the support from Build Up and the Build Peace 2024 conference, and to our partners in Manila – MOLD Makerspace, EJ Angeles, Jay Fajardo, and colleagues Saad Chinoy, Vianney Forewah, Angaama Joy Amba along with the r0g_agency, #defyhatenow and BrailleRap teams for making this possible!

Hashtags

#Tech4Peace #PeaceBuilding  #BuildPeace2024  #defyhatenow #BrailleRAP #ASKotec

The digital age offers remarkable opportunities for social change, especially in conflict-affected areas. Recognizing this potential, the #defyhatenow initiative launched the #Tech4Peace project in Cameroon in July 2024. Over the past three months, this innovative program has brought together a diverse group of individuals dedicated to promoting peace through technology and media literacy. The primary goals of the #Tech4Peace project is centred around empowering participants to utilise technology to foster peace and cohesion within their communities. This training aimed at: 

– Enhancing media literacy through the program, educating participants on media and information literacy, helping them critically evaluate online content and combat the spread of hate speech.

– In a bid to instil conflict resolution skills in them, participants learned first hand how to navigate and resolve conflicts peacefully, drawing from their own experiences and surrounding environments. 

– The project provided hands-on training in various digital tools and platforms, equipping fellows with practical skills to create and share peace-promoting content effectively.

– To understand the importance of fostering community engagement by directly engaging with their communities and realising projects, fellows have been empowered to implement peace initiatives that resonate with local needs and cultural contexts.

The #Tech4Peace project attracted a wide array of passionate individuals from various regions across Cameroon specifically from the North West, South West, Centre and the Northern regions. Throughout this period, they demonstrated their eagerness, dedication and passion to gain more skills in technology and were more zealous about how they can use these newly acquired skills or knowledge to build peace in their respective communities. The selected fellows were chosen based on their commitment to promoting peace and their potential to impact their communities positively. This diverse group is composed of youth leaders, activists, creatives and Tech enthusiasts each bringing unique perspectives and skills to the program. Their shared ambition is to use technology as a means of fostering dialogue and understanding among their peers and in communities.

They were opportune to meet and engage with experts who took time out to share their own experiences and perspectives with them around community peace building, media literacy, information disorder, understanding and mastering the mitigation of hate/dangerous speech, design for peacebuilding, web development, AI and content creation for responsible social media engagement.  

As the three-month session comes to a close, a comprehensive bootcamp will be held from October 24-25, 2024, in Yaounde, to celebrate the achievements of the fellows. A three months online training which now allows participants to finally get to meet their peers from other regions for a 2day gathering, will be more of a networking platform to connect with each other and birth or build impactful ideas for the future. This event is structured around several key components:

• The fellows will present their final projects, showcasing how they have applied their training to address specific issues related to hate speech and conflict in their communities. These presentations will highlight innovative solutions and creative approaches, embodying the spirit of the #Tech4Peace initiative. 

• During the bootcamp, participants will engage with mentors and peers to receive constructive feedback on their projects, fostering an environment of collaborative improvement.

• As a formal recognition of their hard work and dedication over the past three months, all fellows will be awarded certificates of completion. This acknowledgment not only rewards their efforts but also enhances their credentials as peace advocates in their communities.

• The bootcamp will facilitate connections among fellows, mentors, and institution professionals. These networking opportunities are vital for building lasting partnerships and amplifying the impact of their initiatives.

The #Tech4Peace project, organised by #defyhatenow, represents a transformative effort to harness technology for peacebuilding in Cameroon. By equipping a new generation of peace advocates with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to address hate speech and foster social cohesion, this initiative is paving the way for a more peaceful future.

As the bootcamp approaches for October 24 to 25, 2024, the excitement in the air grows, with fellows eager to share their innovations and celebrate their collective journey toward promoting peace using technology. The outcomes of this project have the potential to resonate far beyond the classroom, inspiring communities and igniting a movement toward understanding and unity in the face of division.

For more updates on the #Tech4Peace initiative and further details on the next intake of fellows, stay connected with the #defyhatenow community on our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter now X. LinkedIn, Tiktok, Instagram). 

Hashtag: #defyhatenow #Tech4Peace, #ThinkB4UClick, #PeaceBuilding, #HateFreeCameroon 

Contexte

L’initiative #defyhatenow vise à mobiliser l’action civique et numérique pour contrer les discours de haine et l’extrémisme violent en ligne et hors ligne. En essayant de fournir des solutions basées sur des données, l’initiative utilise le programme #Tech4Peace comme outil de résolution de problèmes dans les zones touchées par les conflits. La construction technique de la paix implique l’application de l’expertise et des connaissances techniques pour soutenir les efforts de construction de la paix dans les zones touchées par les conflits. L’utilisation de la technologie pour apporter la paix à une communauté implique de tirer parti d’outils et d’approches innovants pour aborder les problèmes, favoriser le dialogue et promouvoir la cohésion sociale. #defyhatenow estime que former les étudiants à l’utilisation de la technologie pour construire la paix est un excellent moyen de rassembler les communautés depuis qu’Internet a fait du monde un village global. En tant que bâtisseurs de paix techniques, les boursiers seront initiés et formés à la manière de changer les récits dans une communauté par le biais de la communication et du partage d’informations, de la narration numérique, de l’éducation et de la formation en ligne. Cela permettra aux étudiants et aux professionnels du secteur technique de soutenir les programmes d’action communautaire dans les zones de conflit et de renforcer leurs efforts d’engagement. 

Impact attendu de la bourse: 

La bourse #Tech4Peace vise à construire un réseau de bâtisseurs de paix techniques en permettant aux étudiants universitaires récemment diplômés et aux jeunes experts techniques de s’engager avec les communautés #defyhatenow grâce à des opportunités de sensibilisation communautaire technique dans les domaines de la conception, du développement technologique, de l’IA et de la création de contenu numérique, ainsi que du matériel. 

Méthodologie

Le programme est basé sur un modèle d’apprentissage mixte utilisant des webinaires, des leçons pratiques, l’apprentissage entre pairs et le travail pratique sur le terrain dans les centres sélectionnés et avec les organisations communautaires assignées.

Les boursiers participeront à quatre mois d’engagement pratique, en commençant par un mois de construction de la paix numérique, d’opposition à la désinformation et de lutte contre les discours de haine.

Ils passeront ensuite un autre mois à apprendre par leurs pairs afin d’améliorer leurs compétences techniques.

Ensuite, ils seront affectés pendant deux mois à des organisations communautaires jumelées, où ils mettront leurs talents au service de l’organisation, mais apprendront aussi l’engagement communautaire auprès de l’hôte.

Pendant les deux mois d’apprentissage, les boursiers auront accès aux Hubs, où ils s’engageront avec des pairs, utiliseront des kits d’outils matériels et participeront à des cours d’apprentissage en ligne.

Calendrier

Juin, juillet, août et septembre 2024

Qui peut postuler ?

Les jeunes diplômés et les professionnels qui possèdent des compétences dans l’un ou l’autre des domaines suivants et qui souhaitent s’engager en soutenant des projets ayant un impact sur la communauté ;

• Conception créative et graphique
• Développement de sites web
• IA et création de contenu numérique.
• Conception et développement de matériel.

Âge

• 17-22
• 23-28
• 29-40

Localisation

Être situé dans l’une des régions suivantes. 

• Région Nord-Ouest
• Région Sud-Ouest
• Région Extrême-Nord
• Région Centre

La bourse implique un engagement physique partiel dans l’un de nos centres sélectionnés situés à Bamenda, Buea, Maroua et Yaoundé. 

Conditions

• Être disponible tout au long de la formation
• Comprendre l’anglais et le français 
• Posséder un smartphone et un ordinateur portable en état de marche
• Avoir des connaissances en informatique

Postulez ici

Les candidats sélectionnés seront informés par courriel de leur sélection pour le programme avant le 10 juin 2024.

A propos de #defyhatenow Cameroun

defyhatenow est une initiative qui vise à fournir des solutions communautaires, basées sur des données, au problème des discours de haine, de la désinformation et des fake news. Notre travail se concentre sur la création d’un cadre permettant d’instaurer la confiance entre les parties prenantes en mobilisant l’action civique contre toutes les formes de discours de haine et d’incitation à la violence. #defyhatenow cherche à aider les voix contre les conflits induits en ligne à devenir « virales » à l’intérieur et au-delà des régions touchées en engageant les jeunes, les dirigeants communautaires, les organisations de base et d’autres acteurs de la société civile dans un cadre de paix dans les médias et l’information. Combler le fossé entre ceux qui ont accès à la technologie et ceux qui n’y ont pas accès en ce qui concerne la connaissance et la sensibilisation aux mécanismes des médias sociaux. Enfin, #defyhatenow est un réseau croissant de gardiens de la paix en ligne et hors ligne.

Background

The #defyhatenow initiative works at mobilizing civic action and digital action to counter hate speech and violent extremism online and offline. In an effort to provide data-based solutions, the initiative uses the #Tech4Peace programs as a problem-solving tool in conflict-hit zones.

Technical peace-building involves the application of technical expertise and knowledge to support peace-building efforts in conflict-affected areas. Using technology to bring peace to a community involves leveraging innovative tools and approaches to address  issues, foster dialogue, and promote social cohesion.

#defyhatenow believes that training students in using technology to build peace is a great way of bringing communities together since the internet has made the world a global village. As technical peacebuilders, fellows will be introduced and taught how to change narratives in a community through communication and information sharing, digital storytelling, and online education and training. This will allow technical students and professionals to support community action programs in conflict zones and enhance their involvement efforts.

Objective of the fellowship

The #Tech4Peace fellowship aims to build a network of technical peace builders by enabling recently graduated university students and young technical experts to engage with #defyhatenow communities through technical community outreach opportunities in design, tech development, AI and digital content creation, and hardware. 

Methodology

The program is based on a blended learning model using webinars, practical lessons, peer-to-peer learning, and on-the-ground practical work in select hubs and with assigned community organizations.

Fellows will participate in four months of hands-on engagement, beginning with one month of digital peacebuilding, opposing disinformation, and combating hate speech.

Then spend another month of peer learning to improve technical skills.

After that, they will be assigned to matched community organizations for two months, where they will not only give their hard talents to the organization but will also learn about community engagement from the host.

During the two learning months, fellows will have access to the Hubs, where they will engage with peers, use hardware toolkits, and participate in online learning courses.

Timelines

June, July, August & September 2024

Who can apply?

Recent graduates and professionals  who poses skills in either of the following areas and would like to engage by supporting community impact projects:

• Creative & Graphics Design
• Website development
• AI & digital content creation.
• Hardware design and development.

Age

• 17-22
• 23-28
• 29-40

Location

Be located in or able to access either of the following regions:

• North-West region
• South-West region
• Extreme North region
• Centre region

The fellowship will involve partly physical engagement in either of our select hubs located in; Bamenda, Buea, Maroua, or Yaounde. 

Conditions

• Be available throughout the training
• Understand English and French
• Own a working smartphone and laptop
• Be computer literate.

Apply here

 Selected applicants will be notified by email of their selection for the program by June 10th, 2024

About #defyhatenow Cameroon

#defyhatenow is an initiative that aims to provide community-based, data-driven solutions to the problem of hate speech, misinformation and fake news. Our work focuses on creating a framework for building trust among stakeholders by mobilising civic action against all forms of hate speech and incitement to violence. #defyhatenow seeks to help voices against online-induced conflict go ‘viral’ within and beyond affected regions by engaging youth, community leaders, grassroots organisations and other civil society actors in a framework of peace in media and information. Bridging the gaps in knowledge and awareness of social media mechanisms between those who have access to technology and those who do not. Finally, #defyhatenow is a growing network of online and offline peacekeepers.

Mais qu’est-ce que la protection de la vie privée en ligne et comment pouvez-vous vous protéger contre les menaces et les violations potentielles?  Ce sont là quelques questions auxquelles il a été répondu lors d’un séminaire en ligne organisé par notre organisation le 30 avril 2024 sous le thème “Le guide ultime de la protection de la vie privée en ligne: Le guide ultime de la vie privée en ligne : Mythes démystifiés et meilleures pratiques révélées” 

La première présentation a mis en évidence un bon nombre d’idées fausses que beaucoup considèrent comme peu importantes et a clairement dissipé les réalités pour une prise de conscience et un réveil de ceux qui, sans le savoir, ont maintenu cette école de pensée, cela a été expliqué avec le contexte;

• “Je n’ai rien à cacher, je n’ai donc pas besoin de me préoccuper de la protection de la vie privée en ligne”

C’est l’une des idées fausses les plus répandues sur la protection de la vie privée en ligne. En réalité, tout le monde a quelque chose à cacher, qu’il s’agisse d’informations personnelles, de données financières ou de conversations privées. Entre de mauvaises mains, même des données innocentes peuvent être utilisées à mauvais escient, ce qui peut avoir des conséquences inattendues telles que l’usurpation d’identité ou l’atteinte à la réputation. La protection de la vie privée ne consiste pas seulement à dissimuler des actes répréhensibles, mais aussi à garder le contrôle de ses informations personnelles et de son identité numérique. Il est important de comprendre que vos données en ligne sont précieuses et doivent être protégées. 

        –   “Le chiffrement est réservé aux criminels et aux terroristes”

Le chiffrement est un outil essentiel pour sécuriser les communications, les transactions et les données sensibles, tant pour les particuliers que pour les entreprises. Il est largement utilisé par tous, des journalistes aux prestataires de soins de santé, pour protéger les informations sensibles. Alors que nos vies deviennent de plus en plus numériques, un chiffrement fort est essentiel pour protéger nos activités personnelles et professionnelles pour le bien et la sécurité de tous.

– “Les grandes entreprises technologiques assureront la protection de ma vie privée à ma place”

De nombreuses entreprises technologiques donnent la priorité à la monétisation des données des utilisateurs plutôt qu’à la protection de la vie privée, car leurs modèles commerciaux reposent souvent sur la collecte de données. La faiblesse des réglementations en matière de protection de la vie privée et de leur mise en œuvre permet aux entreprises technologiques de collecter et d’utiliser des données à caractère personnel sans grande surveillance ni conséquence. Les intérêts de ces entreprises technologiques et des utilisateurs sont souvent mal alignés lorsqu’il s’agit de la vie privée, ce qui conduit à une protection insuffisante.

• “L’utilisation du mode incognito ou de la navigation privée préserve la confidentialité de mon activité en ligne”

Si ces modes peuvent empêcher l’enregistrement de votre historique de navigation et d’autres données sur votre appareil local, ils ne cachent pas non plus votre activité en ligne à votre fournisseur d’accès à internet ou aux sites web que vous visitez. Votre fournisseur d’accès peut toujours suivre et collecter vos activités en ligne par le biais de cookies et d’autres technologies de suivi. 

• “L’utilisation d’un VPN suffit à protéger ma vie privée en ligne”

Beaucoup diront que pour vraiment protéger votre vie privée en ligne, envisagez d’utiliser un réseau privé virtuel (VPN) pour crypter votre connexion internet et masquer votre adresse IP. Un VPN crypte votre trafic internet et masque votre adresse IP, offrant ainsi une couche supplémentaire de confidentialité et de sécurité. Pour une protection complète de la vie privée en ligne, un VPN doit être associé à d’autres mesures telles que des mots de passe robustes, une authentification à deux facteurs et des habitudes de navigation prudentes. Toutefois, un VPN ne peut à lui seul protéger contre toutes les menaces en ligne, telles que les violations de données, les logiciels malveillants ou la surveillance exercée par les gouvernements. 

• “Supprimer mon historique de navigation est tout ce que je dois faire” 

La suppression de votre historique de navigation n’a lieu que sur votre appareil local, et non sur les serveurs des sites web que vous avez visités. Votre fournisseur d’accès à internet, ainsi que les sites web et les services en ligne que vous utilisez, peuvent toujours enregistrer et conserver votre activité de navigation. Même en l’absence de cookies ou d’historique de navigation, la configuration unique de votre navigateur peut être utilisée pour suivre vos activités en ligne. La suppression de votre historique de navigation ne supprime pas les données mises en cache, auxquelles les sites web peuvent toujours accéder et qu’ils peuvent utiliser pour suivre votre activité.

• “La protection de la vie privée est une cause perdue à l’ère numérique”

Le cryptage, les outils axés sur la protection de la vie privée et les technologies décentralisées offrent de nouveaux moyens de protéger les données personnelles. De plus en plus de personnes reconnaissent l’importance de la protection de la vie privée en ligne et prennent des mesures pour protéger leurs informations. Les gouvernements adoptent des lois plus strictes sur la protection de la vie privée afin de responsabiliser les entreprises et de permettre aux utilisateurs de mieux contrôler leurs données personnelles. Le respect de la vie privée, c’est prendre les mesures qui s’imposent. 

Vianney Forewah a emmené les participants à la découverte de la nécessité de comprendre l’étendue de ses données numériques et a décrit les moyens d’adopter des stratégies solides de gestion et de protection des données pour assurer sa sécurité en ligne. Dans sa présentation, il a souligné la nécessité de la formation en expliquant qu’elle sert à sensibiliser à l’importance de la vie privée en ligne, aux risques potentiels pour les données personnelles et aux conséquences de mauvaises habitudes en matière de sécurité en ligne, en fournissant des outils et des stratégies pratiques pour prendre activement le contrôle de leur vie privée et de leur sécurité en ligne et en encourageant les individus à adopter des comportements en ligne plus sûrs, à faire des choix plus éclairés sur les informations qu’ils partagent et à sélectionner des services qui accordent la priorité à la vie privée. 

En contrôlant notre vie privée en ligne, nous nous assurons que les informations que nous partageons reflètent la façon dont nous voulons être vus ou perçus, et nous protégeons ainsi les détails sensibles qui pourraient être utilisés à mauvais escient. Les annonceurs vous suivent en ligne, établissant des profils pour cibler les individus avec des publicités. En prenant des mesures, on peut réduire ce phénomène. Les violations d’informations personnelles peuvent être utilisées par des criminels pour usurper l’identité d’une personne, ouvrir de nouveaux comptes en son nom ou accumuler des dettes. En prenant des mesures pour sécuriser vos données, vous pouvez réduire considérablement le risque d’être victime de ces délits.

En dissipant les différentes menaces qui pèsent sur la vie privée des internautes, il a révélé que les courtiers en données collectent et vendent de grandes quantités d’informations personnelles, que la publicité ciblée permet de suivre le comportement en ligne d’une personne afin d’établir des profils et que la surveillance gouvernementale permet de contrôler toutes les activités en ligne au sein d’un pays. 

Une question clé a été posée pour savoir si les individus, à certains moments de leur vie, prennent le temps de se chercher en ligne pour savoir ce qu’on dit d’eux. C’est pourquoi, de temps en temps, il est très nécessaire de faire des recherches sur ce qu’Internet a rassemblé comme profil en ligne d’une personne, en cliquant sur le lien suivant: https://myaccount.google.com/dashboard 

L’importance d’utiliser des mots de passe forts sur tous vos comptes de médias sociaux est de rendre l’accès à vos données personnelles difficile pour quiconque, car la longueur est la clé, visez au moins 15 caractères, plus ils sont complexes, mieux c’est. L’unicité est essentielle, résistez à la tentation de réutiliser le même mot de passe sur plusieurs comptes, une violation de données sur un site pourrait compromettre tous vos autres comptes si vous utilisez le même mot de passe. La complexité est importante. Utilisez une combinaison de lettres majuscules et minuscules, de chiffres et de symboles. Évitez d’utiliser des informations personnelles telles que votre nom, votre anniversaire ou le nom de votre animal de compagnie dans vos mots de passe. Les gestionnaires de mots de passe génèrent des mots de passe forts et uniques pour tous vos comptes et les stockent en toute sécurité à l’aide d’un système de cryptage, ce qui vous évite d’avoir à vous souvenir de plusieurs mots de passe et vous permet de vous connecter facilement à vos comptes. 

La sécurité sur les différentes plateformes de médias sociaux passe également par le respect de bonnes pratiques qui protègent vos données dans différents cas. Quelles sont les mesures à prendre pour s’assurer d’être sécurisé et protégé sur les différentes plateformes de médias sociaux? 

• Authentification à deux facteurs (2FA), MFA, ajoute une couche de sécurité 

         Vérifiez la sécurité des sites web, recherchez l’icône du cadenas et la mention « HTTPS »

dans la barre d’adresse.

• Pour les mises à jour de logiciels, installez rapidement les correctifs de sécurité et les mises à jour du système d’exploitation afin de corriger les vulnérabilités. Cryptage. 
• Méfiez-vous des réseaux Wi-Fi publics, évitez les transactions sensibles et envisagez d’utiliser un réseau privé virtuel (VPN). 
• Pour les bloqueurs de publicité et les bloqueurs de traceurs, utilisez des extensions de navigateur (comme uBlock Origin ou Privacy Badger) pour limiter le suivi par les sites web. 
• Pour prévenir les antivirus et les anti-malwares, utilisez des logiciels réputés pour vous protéger contre les virus, les logiciels espions et d’autres menaces malveillantes, et maintenez-les à jour.

Bien qu’il soit essentiel de suivre intentionnellement les étapes ci-dessus pour se protéger en ligne, il est important de noter qu’il y a des choses à ne pas faire ou à ne pas publier sur les médias sociaux pour éviter certains de ces crimes ; limiter le partage excessif sur les médias sociaux, éviter de publier des détails sensibles (adresse du domicile, projets de vacances, date de naissance complète). Utilisez des messageries cryptées, des applications comme Signal et WhatsApp protègent la communication, minimiser les permissions des applications, n’autoriser l’accès qu’aux fonctions essentielles, faites attention aux courriels demandant des informations personnelles ou des identifiants de connexion, car il peut s’agir de tentatives de phishing, car les banques et les entreprises de bonne réputation ne demandent généralement pas ces informations par courrier électronique. Sécurisez vos appareils physiques, verrouillez-les lorsqu’ils ne sont pas utilisés et faites attention aux personnes qui surfent sur votre épaule en public.

La protection de la vie privée en ligne est une préoccupation réelle et non un mythe. Il est donc important que les individus restent informés et conscients des risques qui existent et qu’ils prennent les mesures de précaution nécessaires pour protéger leurs informations personnelles. En démystifiant ces mythes courants et en suivant les meilleures pratiques, vous pouvez mieux protéger votre vie privée en ligne dans un monde où la technologie est en constante évolution.

There has been a rise in inter-community and inter-religious conflicts both on social media and in communities, this needs to be addressed to obtain lasting solutions. Our aim is to bring young people together and give them access to skills, knowledge and open tech that will address the challenges their communities face and transform patterns that fuel conflict and inequality. It will reduce the high level of hate and violence within communities. 

This activity aims at bringing these young people together and skilling them on how to tackle the root causes and drivers of hate speech through the use of technology; it also aims at enabling #defyhatenow to respond effectively to the impact of hate speech on societies. In line with the objectives of #defyhatenow which seeks to combat online and offline hate speech and incitement to violence, marginalisation and discrimination by prioritising early warning and early action, and building on preventive approaches to community peace-building for social cohesion. 

The #ASKcamp – Access to Skills and Knowledge bootcamp is out to develop networks that sustainably connect people and address the challenges that their communities deal with in the face of conflict and instability. The #ASKotec – Access to Skills and Knowledge open tech emergency kit is designed to function as a set of tools to teach youth and adults in Cameroon how to use open technology to innovate, learn and repair items, also providing access to vital media literacy and knowledge skills. r0g_agency for open culture and Critical Transformation has developed two #ASKotec kits for use in local conflict-prone areas to give young Cameroonians useful skills to contribute to the development of their communities. 

That is why on the 9th of April 2023, a training session was conducted for members of the Google Developers Group in the University of Bamenda. The objective of the training was to provide the students with an introduction to open hardware and hands-on practice with the ASKotec Kit and offline information access mini-servers. Through the training, the students were expected to gain practical knowledge in developing simple circuits, understand basic electronics and microcontrollers, and learn the principles of open-source software and hardware.

The Cyber Holidays Boot Camp was another activity organised in Buea from August 17th to 19th 2023; a three-day program that was held in Buea, designed to promote cybersecurity awareness and digital innovation among youths in Cameroon. The program was held in response to the growing threat of cybercrime in Cameroon. The Cyber Holidays Boot Camp was seen as an opportunity to educate young people about the dangers of cybercrime and to equip them with the skills they need to protect themselves online. The program was also designed to promote digital innovation. Cameroon has a young and tech-savvy population, and the Cyber Holidays Boot Camp was seen as an opportunity to harness this potential and to create a generation of young people who can use technology to solve problems and make a positive impact in the world.

The ASKcamp is an activity happening in Bamenda from November 21 to 23, 2023. This activity has as its objective to bring together more than 50 youth from within the North West region, from different communities and backgrounds in a space to tackle tech-oriented solutions in response to the crisis. The bootcamp aims to empower individuals to address the challenges their communities face and transform patterns that fuel conflict and inequality, by providing youth access to skills and knowledge,  training of trainers, workshops, open source hardware and software that promotes entrepreneurship, gender equality, trauma and healing, financial sustainability and a possibility of sensitising them on the importance of using technology in building peace in communities. 

At #defyhatenow we believe that technology helps create predictive models, which can better understand how an emergency or disaster will impact the area. Understanding and viewing the prediction makes it easier to create an effective plan of action that addresses the concerns that the predictive model brings to light. We work with technology to help manage emergencies and disaster situations to help lead to more effective advances and innovations in conflict-prone areas. We aim to facilitate emergency response agencies to resolve threats in a timely and comprehensive manner.

As part of the Women’s Day celebration, #defyhatenow organised a series of activities throughout the month which included a Zoom discussion with Women peacebuilders and community leaders,  we equally had an in-person meeting with Women journalists from two media associations in Cameroon, another with religious and cultural women leaders, meanwhile within the month, interviewed and discussed with some outstanding association leaders who are doing a difference in their communities. This was also an opportunity to connect with more women-led associations and networks in Cameroon for future collaborations and provide avenues to permit them to reaffirm their commitment to building peace in their communities for a #HateFreeCameroon. 

 A Talk with Women Community PeaceBuilders 

To mark the commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day, #defyhatenow had heart-to-heart discussions with some women community leaders to learn more about what they do in their communities on a daily basis, the impact they create and their relentless efforts toward moulding younger girls to become the best version of themselves. It was quite fascinating to discover how much time, energy and resources these women from various backgrounds and with different talents invest to make sure that their community members, especially the young girls, get well-equipped to better their future. To know more about these women read here 

Digital inclusion: Embrace equity and engage together for a #HateFreeCameroon

Women are at the heart of building peaceful societies, through #SafeDigitalSpaces and for a Cameroon void of violence and hatred be it online or offline. This year, as per the International Women’s Day theme which focused on ‘‘Digital Inclusion’’, it was key that #defyhatenow brings to her own discussion table women who are working hard to change the narratives in their communities in the world of technology for a better online experience for everyone. 

It was light to this, that we brought together Tech leading ladies, Doctors, peace educators, women and youth association leaders, tech entrepreneurs and lawyers to discuss ways in which women’s voices can also be heard in this era of digitisation and how much they can equally contribute in decision making for a prosperous and inclusive society for all. While the world is clamouring for #DigitALL, we are proud to say that #defyhatenow is a trailblazer in the digital inclusion of women as we do not believe that women are less competent than men, we believe in inclusion and equity in all sectors. At #defyhatenow, our core social media mandate is to have #SafeDigitalSpaces for all internet users, but particularly for Women to amplify their voices as peacebuilders. Today we boast of a community of empowered women who own their digital spaces and tell their stories from all parts of Cameroon. 

         Women Journalists and ICTs: Opportunities to Embrace 

The non-involvement of women in the field of ICTs throughout the world in general and in Cameroon in particular raises questions about the causes of this phenomenon. As part of the International Women’s Day activities, #defyhatenow in partnership with CIPESA chose to mark the event through an interactive discussion session coupled with the sharing of experiences with women journalists, under the theme women journalists and ICTs: opportunities to embrace. The objective of this discussion session was to remind women journalists of the urgent need to get updated and upgrade their use of technology in the exercise of their work. They were reminded to close the big gap that exists between social and traditional media. It was also an opportunity to equip them with good practices, concrete experiences, while presenting the advantages, as well as the opportunities offered by digital media. The women were advised to get rid of their excuses and to find their way to building themselves and seize the opportunities that the digital world offers. 

‘‘It’s easy to fall asleep on the cushion that our excuses offer, but that’s a trap. We spend too much time analysing the challenges that female journalists face, we have been missing out on a lot. Fortunately, the Internet is full of opportunities and solutions. It levels the playing ground and has solutions for our sisters looking to start their own publications, create their own channels, find sources, engage audiences, find jobs, get scholarships, and training, make more money, verify info and collaborate with other journalists’’. Comfort Musa, Multimedia Journalist 

                       One #defyhatenow Women’s Virtual Discussion 

In addition to our series of activities to mark the spirit of the month, the #defyhatenow female team members met and shared views on how to #EmbraceEquity in the workplace, community, and peacebuilding space. We remain committed to empowering women in our communities to reach their full potential, to be included in all spaces and to be given the chances they deserve work-related and in decision-making places. Online harassment is a major issue for women, especially well-known and outspoken women such as celebrities, content creators, journalists, and politicians. They face online backlash, especially when they post articles about sexual harassment, equality, and women’s fashion choices.

As a result, they may lose the will and courage to voice out their opinions and may even stop using social media entirely. Women deserve safe online spaces where they can post their views without fear, or just be themselves!

Embrace Equity: Women Building Peace bridges for #HateFreeCameroon 

To mark the end of the International Women’s Day activities this year, an intercultural and interreligious meet-up was held to further encourage women to promote equity for peace in their communities, hence the need to gather leaders of religious and cultural associations to discuss ways they can contribute in building peace in their communities. 

Cameroon is presently at the crossroad of peace and security initiatives and each person has a unique role to play in peacebuilding. Unfortunately, women are still lagging behind. Close to 50 local civil society actors, principally women-led organisations answered present. Women, it should be noted, are always actors and victims of most crises around the world, reasons why including them in peace-building processes is always important.

These women leaders agreed that to move to the negotiation table, they, first of all, need not only to empower themselves but to empower other groups beginning with those in local communities.

“We need to begin to lift the cultural, religious, and political barriers that come and impede our development as women. A woman has to start by empowering herself because she can only give what comes from within,” says Yaah Gladys Viban Shang, gender and youth advancement consultant.

As part of the Youth Week, #defyhatenow_WCA organized a series of activities to mark the celebration, among which were awareness-raising on our work, sensitization outreach, training activities and online campaign for young people around peacebuilding and the fight against mis/disinformation and hate speech. The online campaign was  an opportunity to launch an online challenge towards the Youth to reaffirm their commitment to Peace and social cohesion in Cameroon. The challenge was launched on social media with the aim to generate content around the hashtag #Youth4Peace, re-energise the commitment of our online youth community to the fight against hate speech and misinformation, raise the interest of online users on #defyhatenow_WCA’s actions, create a close relationship with our community and to convert our followers into #defyhatenow ambassadors. 

This challenge was made to happen in five different steps: 

Step 1: Follow our social media Accounts

Step 2: Create and Upload a short 45 second video 

Step 3: Tag #defyhatenow_WCA & Civic Watch Cameroon accounts using the following hashtags : #Youth4Peace #defyhatenow #ThinkB4UClick

Step 4: Share the link of their video content in different groups to get the highest number of likes, comments and shares. 

Step 5: Share the link of their post on our Facebook in the comment section where the announcement  of the challenge was made. 

At the end of the challenge, there were 3 winners who had collected the most engagement on their video, with a symbolic prize awarded to each of them. After the challenge, we had our three winners who got selected in respect to their captivating messages, language choice and total engagement around the campaign but most importantly their ability to mobilise more youths to join in the challenge even in the least way by liking, commenting or sharing the post inorder to push forth the message of a #Peaceful and #HateFreeCameroon.

Meet our #Youth4Peace Challenge Winners

The first winner was Pechuqui Laurata, a documentary filmmaker, journalist, media, and development enthusiast. She holds a BSc in Communication and Development from the University of Bamenda. She volunteers with CBS Radio Bamenda and also runs a blog. She is part of a group that works towards producing documentary films and videos on Sustainable Development Goals. To view her video Click here. 

Junie Pouorgounal was the second winner of our challenge. She is a journalist and an external contributor to CRTV Adamaoua. She is also Secretary General of the Gogetters women Africa association (GOWA), a fellow of the 6th cohort of the #AFFCameroon (Africa Fact Checking Fellowship). Junie holds a professional degree in Journalism from the University of Maroua. She is interested in women issues, inclusive and quality education, peace and the environment.  In this context, she uses the means at her disposal (social networks, reports, etc.) to promote peace for a safe space where women can assert themselves. Junie was recently awarded a fellowship from the YALI RLC Accra emerging leaders program, where she was trained in Public Management and Policy. To listen to her message click here. 

Mbuh Stella, third winner of the challenge is equally an award winning multimedia journalist based in the North West Region of Cameroon. She is a content creator who runs a YouTube channel and a Facebook page, meant for the publication of news in her community. She had been recognized twice for braving difficult terrains in the North West Region to give a professional touch to news reporting. Stella is a cohort 2 fellow of the #AFFCameroon (Africa Fact Checking Fellowship Cameroon) a #defyhatenow project. Enjoy her pidgin english video here.

The entire #defyhatenow team expresses their hearty congratulations to all the winners and a big THANK YOU to all contestants who took time out to participate in the #Youth4Peace challenge and for pushing the message of peace further for a #HateFreeCameroon. Feel Free revisit all the videos produced and shared during the Challenge here in English  and French

This year, #defyhatenow through her implementing Association Civic Watch set out to equip children and youths, permitting them acquire additional skills in hardware technology during this summer holidays. Skilling youths between the ages 11 and 29 to access opportunities that come with integrating the mastery of technology in their lives and to guide them in applying their knowledge toward solving the challenges in their environments and communities more effectively, efficiently, and innovatively. The Access to Skills and Knowledge #defyhatenow-hacker camp was set up to be very practical; combining theory with hands-on exercises to allow the kids apply the knowledge acquired to case study scenarios. In addition we bring on board mentors and field/career experts in various domains to better expose the future dynamics of their hopes in STEAM. 

During this three months session, our seasoned trainers; Desmond Mankefor and Antoine Ringnyu engaged youths from two active urban areas; Yaounde and Douala in the creation of mini projects and the repair of household electronic equipment. In Yaounde, we had two workshops with EduClick, an Association out to develop alternative learning methods for children and youths who cannot attend formal education, the project relies much on information technology and technological innovations. At the two sessions we had with them, focus was made on the open source hardware, the participants grouped into four had to device strategies on how to think of and create a mini projects, where we saw the first group as the Idea bar, the second group to get materials to use for the project, the third group to control the materials to use and the last group to mount and test the project. The participants were very active, smart and interactive. It is worth noting that these participants were made up just of young dynamic girls who have the passion and desire to know more about technology. Before the training session debuted, they were drilled to understand and master the content of the box and how to use each.  At the two time session with the PCC Bastos congregation youths at their GrowLic Summer Camp activities, we had the opportunity to train and equip the youths on the creation of bulbs, solar lamps and solar chargers. We also integrated the responsible consumption of the internet especially social media use in the current Cameroon context to better inform the youths on the dangers of hate speech and how to protect themselves online and offline for a #HateFreeCameroon.  

Meanwhile in Douala during the hacker camp repair cafe organised in partnership with Active spaces and Johnson Ebigwe Prodcution, the event brought about 30 youths both IDPs and youths of the Peace Watch NGO all based in the Littoral region. The event had 3 main trainers; Ndum Vianney, Kepfed Dumo Besmer and Yeh Isa Nchandome. They were divided into three working groups; each group had its trainer to help them realize a project for the day. The group led by Yeh Isa Nchandome was in charge of repairing a boiler, Ndum Vianney’s group was in charge of repairing a radio, boiler, distributor and an iron box. The last group led by Kepfed Dumo Besmer, was in charge of printing out a design on a T-shirt. At the end of the session all targets set were attained and participants were glad to leave the training hall transformed as they had learned new skills to help them become autonomous. 

The #ASKotec kit developed to skill and empower trainees to become autonomous and self employed with skills to repair and fix electronic appliances, was designed for people living in low infrastructure regions, including persons from remote areas where access to information and training is extremely limited.

#ASKotec #Act4Peace #DesignDevelop4Peace #ThinkB4UClick #HateFreeCameroon

More Pictures  

Yaounde PCC Bastos and EduClick 

Contexte

Le Cameroun connaît trois crises de sécurité simultanées, à savoir les attaques de Boko Haram dans la région de l’Extrême-Nord qui s’est réduite à des attaques sporadiques mais violentes, un débordement de la crise en République centrafricaine, y compris l’afflux de réfugiés des régions de l’Est, et le conflit anglophone principalement concentré dans les régions du Nord-Ouest et du Sud-Ouest. Ces risques sécuritaires sont exacerbés par les risques de catastrophes naturelles, de sécheresses et d’inondations. Ces risques affectent les populations vivant dans des zones exposées aux aléas naturels et risques sécuritaires, entraînant souvent des déplacements à grande échelle, des pertes de vies humaines, de moyens de subsistance et les tensions civiles qui émergent le plus souvent autour des discours politiques, sociaux et économiques. S’ils ne sont pas correctement atténués, ces risques pourraient compromettre la croissance économique, la stabilité politique et le développement des infrastructures du pays.  

Alors que le pays se lance dans la mise en œuvre de sa stratégie nationale de développement 2020-2030, il est important de comprendre et d’intégrer les interventions fondées sur la technologie, afin de faciliter l’alerte précoce et la réponse rapide. Ces interventions encouragent le développement et l’utilisation d’outils technologiques dans le cadre des actions de prévention, de gestion et de résolution des conflits.

Les objectifs de la conférence #EWER

L’atelier de deux jours a pour but d’établir une plate-forme de consultation et de discussions sur les différentes solutions technologiques mises en œuvre et utilisées par diverses parties prenantes au Cameroun, notamment les organisations de la société civile, les entreprises sociales, les agences de médias alternatifs, les institutions gouvernementales et les missions étrangères. Compte tenu de cela, les échanges porteront spécifiquement sur les points suivants :

1. La cartographie des systèmes d’alerte précoce et de réponse existants afin d’identifier les lacunes, les leçons apprises, les bonnes pratiques et les opportunités de mobilisation des ressources.

2. L’engagement sur l’impact des réponses aux conflits et aux calamités pour informer la prise de décisions et stimuler les stratégies d’intervention efficaces.

3. La manipulation des données de masse « Big Data » pour la protection de la vie privée.

4. La contribution à l’harmonisation de l’utilisation de la technologie pour le bien social parmi les parties prenantes.

Résultats attendus 

Les différentes sessions de travail de la conférence comprendront des présentations en panel, des discussions plénières et des engagements des participants visant à obtenir les résultats suivants : 

• Créer un forum d’échange entre les acteurs locaux, régionaux et nationaux sur les approches d’atténuation/prévention des conflits basées sur la technologie.
• Recommander des politiques sur l’utilisation et la mise à l’échelle des initiatives soutenues par la technologie.

Ces résultats pourront être effectifs en créant des synergies d’action des initiatives locales, régionales et nationales d’alerte précoce et de réponse, tout en faisant du lobby pour une visibilité et un soutien accrus de la part des différents acteurs du secteur tech tout en intégrant d’autres parties prenantes qui ont des expertises pertinentes de réponse pour la paix au Cameroun.