JUBA – South Sudan’s Digital Rights Frontlines (DRF), a national NGO based in Juba, formerly known as Defy Hate Now, in partnership with Journalists for Human Rights, has successfully trained 50 participants in Western Equatoria State.
The training, held under the theme “Strengthening Community Resilience against Harmful Information” in Yambio on Tuesday, aimed to empower participants with the skills and knowledge to identify, counter, and prevent the spread of harmful and misleading information within their communities.
Speaking at the opening session, Mr. Isaac Fora, Director General of Information and Communication in Western Equatoria State, commended DRF for bringing such a timely and impactful program to the region.
“This kind of training is what our community needs,” said Mr. Fora. “People are going to learn something new—how to identify and respond to harmful information that threatens our unity and peace.”
He emphasized the importance of continuity and called on DRF to extend the duration of future trainings.
“One day is not enough,” he added. “I urge DRF to consider making it at least two or three days so that our people can truly benefit. We need more time to understand the dangers of misinformation and how to protect ourselves and our communities.”
Mrs. Angeline Sani, DRF’s National Coordinator, expressed gratitude to the participants for honoring the invitation and actively engaging in the training.
“We appreciate your presence here today,” she said. “This training has already taken place in four states, and we hope you will be active and contribute meaningfully. If we come out with strong points and practical ideas, it will open doors for more opportunities and future trainings.”
Participants echoed the call for extended sessions and praised DRF for the initiative:
Stephen Kazi, a youth leader, said, “This training is very important, but one day is too short. We need more days to go deeper into these topics. Thank you, DRF, for starting this conversation.”
Grace William, a women’s group representative, stated, “I’ve learned a lot today, especially about how misinformation spreads. But we need more time to practice what we’ve learned.”
The one-day training aimed to equip youth, community leaders, civil society organizations, women’s groups, and media practitioners with digital literacy and critical thinking skills to counter misinformation, disinformation, and incitement to violence.
DRF promotes digital rights and safe access to technology by fostering trust, mobilizing civic action, and countering harmful narratives online. The training is part of a broader initiative conducted across four states—Western Equatoria, Upper Nile, Jonglei, and Unity—to build community resilience and support peacebuilding efforts.
The training concluded with a renewed commitment from participants to promote safer digital spaces and foster social cohesion in their communities. DRF pledged to continue its efforts in strengthening digital resilience across South Sudan.
