Akademi Milenial Basmi Hoax, Indonesia

Akademi Milenial Basmi Hoax (MBH) is an innovative youth empowerment program conducted by UNDP Indonesia, in collaboration with Mulia Raya Foundation and Generasi Literat. The academy with the theme: “Indonesian Literacy to Counter Hoaxes in the Time of COVID-19” was conducted on 9 – 11 July 2021 and 16 – 18 July 2021. Throughout a three-day workshop engaging 170 millennials across Indonesia, the academy covered seven themes (Religious and Cultural Literacy, Strengthening Common Ground for Peace, Digital Literacy to Counter Hoax, Critical Thinking, Creative Writing for Peace, Storytelling for Peace, etc) and involved more than 10 experts, namely Prof. Musdah Mulia, Sakdiyah Ma’ruf, and Pastor Frangky Tampubulon. 

The purpose of MBH Academy is to empower youth as peace agents to counter hoaxes, including those related to COVID-19. The program aims to scale up their literacy capacity on various issues, especially digital literacy, and elevate necessary skills to create and disseminate positive narratives in social media and their respective peer groups. After participating in the workshop, the peace agents will conduct a campaign by writing and telling values of tolerance, diversity, and prudence in information extraction, which explored from the local wisdom values of the Indonesian people in 34 provinces, including to respond to hoax related to COVID-19.