Haitian Youth Empowered to Combat Disinformation Through Creative Competition
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – In a groundbreaking initiative to combat the pervasive issue of disinformation, the European Union Delegation in Haiti has launched its first-ever creative competition aimed at engaging young Haitians in the fight against fake news. This innovative competition invites young people aged 18 to 30, residing across all ten departments of Haiti, to design and share impactful GIFs and stickers that promote information verification and critical thinking on social media. This initiative recognizes the potent influence of visual communication, particularly among younger demographics, in effectively disseminating vital messages and shaping online behavior.
The competition, open for registration from July 1st to 7th, 2025, provides a unique platform for young Haitians to showcase their creativity and contribute to a critical social cause. Participants are tasked with creating GIFs and stickers that carry a strong message about verifying information before sharing it online, encouraging a more responsible and informed digital citizenship. By leveraging the popularity and shareability of these visual formats, the competition aims to amplify the message of media literacy across various social media platforms, reaching a broad audience and sparking crucial conversations about the importance of factual accuracy.
Registration is simple and accessible online through a dedicated Google Form, where interested individuals can submit their details and attach a copy of their identification. Selected candidates will then have one week to craft their compelling GIFs or stickers and submit them to the organizers. A distinguished selection committee will evaluate the submissions based on their creativity, clarity of message, and potential impact. This approach ensures that the final creations resonate with the target audience and effectively convey the importance of combating disinformation.
The competition culminates in a public voting phase, where five finalists will compete for the grand prize. The finalists’ creations will be showcased on the European Union Delegation’s social media platforms, providing maximum visibility and encouraging widespread engagement. Each finalist will also have the opportunity to promote their work to their own networks, further amplifying the reach and impact of the campaign. This public voting element not only empowers the audience to choose the most effective communication tool but also creates a sense of community ownership and fosters a wider conversation around disinformation.
The competition offers attractive prizes to recognize the creativity and effort of the participants. All five finalists will receive a participation prize of 15,000 HTG. The grand public prize winner, chosen through the public vote, will receive a substantial reward of 150,000 HTG. Additionally, two special prizes will be awarded: the "European Union Favorite" Award (50,000 HTG) and the "Special Fact-Checkers Prize" (50,000 HTG), selected by designated representatives on the selection committee. These prizes incentivize participation and acknowledge the value and impact of the creative contributions in combating disinformation.
This initiative by the European Union Delegation underscores the organization’s commitment to fostering media literacy and empowering Haitian youth to become critical consumers of information. By utilizing creative and engaging formats, the competition aims to transform how young people interact with information online, promoting a culture of verification and responsible sharing. The competition’s emphasis on public participation further strengthens the message by fostering community ownership and encouraging widespread dialogue on the importance of combating disinformation in the digital age. This comprehensive approach reflects a proactive strategy to equip future generations with the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the complex information landscape and contribute to a more informed and democratic society. For further details about the competition, including the complete rules and contact information, interested individuals can visit the European Union Delegation to Haiti’s website or reach out via email or phone.