Join us LIVE for “Voices for Peace: Defying Hate, Building Unity” — a youth-led, art-filled gathering that brings Ethiopia’s voices into the global conversation for peace

This year’s #PeaceJam2025 theme, “The Irrational Dimensions of Pop Culture: Viral Trends, Memes, AI, and the Language of Hate,” explores how this  irrationality, marked by humor, fear, outrage, and virality drives the appeal of online content, often reinforcing hate speech, disinformation, and social division. From deepfakes and AI-generated memes to echo chambers supported by...

#defyhatenow Ethiopia hosted a two-day interactive workshop with 30 students from journalism and social science departments at Bahir Dar University. The sessions focused on misinformation, media ethics, peace journalism, and fact-checking tools.Highlights included:• Critical analysis of information disorder• Hands-on fact-checking using digital tools• Strategic peace messaging activities• Launch of the...

The #defyhatenow Ethiopia team gathered with the Heads of the Social Sciences Department, Research Committee members, and the Dean of Mekelle University to tackle the evolving challenge of information disorder.Led by Dr. Yohannes Asfaw, the workshop explored:• The definitions and dangers of malinformation, disinformation, and misinformation• How the rise in...

A micro-grant program for alumni of the Africa Fact-Checking Fellowship – Ethiopia (AFF-ETH) Cohort I has been launched by the European Union-funded #defyhatenow-Ethiopia project. In order to enable fellows to carry out community-driven projects and directly transfer their fact-checking and media literacy skills to local communities, this program offers small-scale...

To counter Mis/disinformation and advance media literacy throughout Oromia, #defyhatenow-Ethiopia is establishing a weekly 30-minute radio show in collaboration with the Shashemene branch of Fana Media Corporation. The program, which will air Sundays at 5:30 PM from March to June 2025, will include AFF-ETH Cohort I fellows creating engaging content...

oplus_2 From March 10th to 12th, the #defyhatenow Ethiopia team, alongside global colleagues and implementing partners, engaged in a three-day intensive collaboration and planning retreat in Bishoftu. This retreat served as a crucial opportunity to align strategic goals, foster stronger partnerships, and enhance team cohesion. Through focused workshops and collaborative...

The #defyhatenow_Ethiopia Field Guide took a significant step forward with its second Peer Review session. Experts collaborated to refine the guide's content, focusing on critical areas: dissecting Identity and Context, addressing Mental Health, Trauma, and Healing, and confronting Gender-Based Violence. This intensive working session prioritized actionable feedback and collaborative problem-solving,...

oplus_2 The second cohort of Africa Fact-Checking Fellowship - Ethiopia (AFF-ETH) in Mekelle, Tigray region, we initiated the second cohort of the Africa Fact-Checking Fellowship-ETH. This project is a major step in enhancing digital resilience and combating misinformation in the region at large. Fifteen committed individuals, from various groups around...

defyhatenow_Ethiopia convened the Ethiopian Social Media Hate Speech Mitigation Field Guide Peer Review Session, a collaborative event where experts gathered to critically assess and enhance our initiatives. This first session focused on providing in-depth feedback on the field guide's initial draft, specifically addressing three key areas: 1. Identity and Context,...

We graduated our first cohort of the Africa Fact-Checking Fellowship (AFF-ETH) on October 11, 2024, in Shashemene, Oromia Region. The fellows spoke of their works and future actions like tackling hate speech, addressing gender-based disinformation, and promoting media literacy in Ethiopia. Certificates were distributed by the #Defyhatenow project leaders and...

On October 10, 2024, AFF-ETH fellows initiated a strategic relationship with Shashemene Fana Radio against misinformation. This collaboration will use the radio station's platform to upgrade fact-checkers' work and educate the public for strengthening digital resilience in the West Arisi Zone and Surrounding in the Oromia region. #FactChecking #DigitalResilience oplus_2

An inspiration to create the Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Club is shared with Shashemene Catholic Hibret High School on October 10, 2024 through the participation of the AFF-ETH fellows. In the same way, with the school principal and local stakeholders, it works for the establishment of the Media and...

October 10, 2024, Arica Fact Checking Fellows - ETH fellows held an engaging round table discussion at Tamra for Social Development with the participation of over 30 youth volunteers to discuss ways of safekeeping from misinformation and hate speech. Participants coming from modeling, theater, literature, and music presented personal experiences...

On October 9th, 2024, an inspiring Entoto Peace Walk and Community Meetup at Entoto Natural Park, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event brought together 20 women community leaders to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through discussions: sisterhood, media literacy, and actionable solutions. Insights into GBV prevention; the influence of media; and empowering...

The first cohort Intends to equip the first graduating class of 15 fellows with the skills and knowledge to provide the public with access to accurate information. This program bridges the gap between information seekers and trustworthy sources. In an era of rapid digital transformation, misinformation abounds, and critical thinking...

This upcoming online dialogue aims to foster meaningful conversations among Ethiopian diaspora communities, focusing on countering hate speech and misinformation while promoting understanding and unity. The workshop encourages respectful discourse and cultural exchanges, celebrating diversity and shared experiences. Participants will explore strategies for conflict transformation, and gain insights into the...

This is a virtual conference dedicated to inspiring and educating young activists and change-makers about peacebuilding, human rights, and social justice. The conference will feature renowned speakers, workshops, and interactive sessions, offering a platform for youth to learn, network, and collaborate on initiatives that promote peace and positive change in...

The festival aims to amplify marginalized voices and create an inclusive space by recognizing the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities and advocating for their inclusion, the event seeks to promote social cohesion and collective action.

Women Only - Invitation to Participate: Online and Semi-Offline Safe Spaces Aprill 1, - June 30, 2024 The Online and Semi-Offline Safe Spaces initiative provides a supportive environment for women, focusing on Media Information and Literacy, Gender-Based Violence and Mental Health, and Cybersecurity and Privacy. Through a series of sessions,...

Join us for the "Addressing Hate Speech in Amhara: Building Bridges through Dialogue" workshop in Bahir Dar, where we will equip participants with the skills to navigate and counteract hate speech, fostering a resilient community through enhanced dialogue and understanding.

A workshop to design a training program for fellows on fact-checking, countering hate speech, and using media tools. The workshop included journalists, researchers, and others to map out the AFF program. They identified key areas like fighting disinformation and online abuse and contributed to a preliminary curriculum framework with learning...

Join @defyhatenow_Ethiopia and @positive_peace_ethiopia for a transformative full-day workshop on online hate speech mitigation at Jimma University’s Institute of Technology Innovation Incubation Center. Let’s empower ourselves to foster a more positive and inclusive online community.

1st Session - Gendered Misinformation (In-person) was a two-day workshop exclusively for women, with 33 participants each day. The workshop aimed to introduce Gender Based Violence through the lens of Gendered Misinformation in digital media, including advertisements, word of mouth, and social norms, from the Ethiopian perspective. The first day...

oplus_2 On January 18 and 19, 2024, the Field Guide Sprint's Ethiopia Edition update engaged 60 participants (30 females, 30 males) in hate speech and violence mitigation with #defyhatenow