Project Brief: Youths Advocacy against misinformation of COVID 19 Vaccine in Benue State, Nigeria.
The overall goal of the project is to raise a strong team of advocates comprising of young people, youths who will work to increase the uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine and debunk channels of misinformation on COVID 19 Vaccine in Benue State, Nigeria by the end of 2021.
Objectives of the small grant
· To increase the uptake of COVID 19 vaccine by the end of 2021
· To increase awareness among participating students on the value of COVID vaccines and need to adhere to NCDC preventive measures by the end of 2021
· To raise a strong team of young people and youths as advocates on the value of the COVID -19 vaccine.
This was achieved through an Arts and Drawing Competition on the value of COVID-19 Vaccine for Senior Secondary Schools in Markudi, Benue State. Concerned Women International Development Initiative held art and drawing Competitions across 10 Secondary schools both in public and private for senior secondary students on the value of COVID 19 vaccines, and the need to prevent COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation on 22nd October 2021.
One of the unique features of the competition was the inclusion of young people with disabilities for example about 4 students who have visual impediments participated in the competition. This was followed by an online voting on the organization Instagram page: @concernwomen where all the participated students Artwork was displayed for followers to view and to click like on their favorite ones.
The display via social media of the Artwork gave it a wider coverage and reach and was also used to advocate and educate the people on the value of COVID-19 Vaccines. The competition culminated in an Award Ceremony where the best 3 students with the highest likes/dissemination of their artworks on social media were rewarded with Mini Laptops. Also. All the other participating students received a certificate of recognition. The student’s Artwork and results can be found on our Instagram page: @concernwomen.
See attached some pictures of the Art Competition and Award ceremony, link to a newspaper publication of the event. Videos and results of votes. Through this event, we were able to reach more than 5500 people with information on the value of the COVID-19 Vaccine and raised 20 young people as COVID-19 Vaccine advocates.
