In an era where young people are constantly immersed in digital content, the need for media literacy has never been more urgent.
Recognizing this, High Sound for Children Uganda, in partnership with Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS), has rolled out a six-week training program to promote safe and responsible media use among students in PEAS-supported schools.
The initiative kicked off with a teacher training workshop at Onwards and Upwards Secondary School in Buloba, bringing together educators from four participating schools: PEAS Pioneer High School (Mityana), PEAS Samling Nama High School, PEAS Horizon High School (Luweero), and the host school in Buloba.
At the heart of the program is a dual focus: to empower students with critical media literacy skills and to equip teachers with practical tools to guide their learners through a child-led media education journey.
The training covers key areas such as understanding different types of media, how to create responsible content (including news articles and broadcasts), online safety, and the psychological effects of media on youth.
“This program will empower children to navigate media platforms safely as we amplify their voices to speak out on issues affecting them,” said Ms. Hadijah Mwanje, Executive Director of High Sound for Children Uganda.
“We are starting with teacher training to ensure that they can serve as patrons of media clubs to be established in the schools.
These clubs will be central to helping students engage with media critically and confidently.”
With more students gaining access to smartphones, social media, and the internet, concerns over misinformation, cyberbullying, and overexposure to unfiltered content have grown.
The program seeks to address these challenges head-on by fostering a culture of awareness, responsibility, and creativity among learners.
George Ogaba, head teacher of Onwards and Upwards Secondary School, emphasized the importance of teacher involvement:
“In an age where digital content is more accessible than ever, the school recognizes that teachers play a crucial role in helping young people navigate the online world thoughtfully and safely.”
The training program is expected to eventually reach up to 10 PEAS-supported schools across Uganda, impacting dozens of educators and potentially thousands of students.
By integrating media education into the classroom through these teacher-led clubs, the initiative aspires to nurture a generation of informed, responsible, and expressive digital citizens.
Looking ahead, High Sound for Children Uganda plans to evaluate the impact of the training by monitoring student engagement in the media clubs, the quality of content produced, and the overall shift in students’ understanding of media dynamics.
The program could serve as a model for other institutions aiming to safeguard and empower youth in the digital age.
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