About Us

Ethiopia is a country of vibrant youth and rich cultural diversity. With growing access to mobile and internet services, young Ethiopians are more connected than ever—actively engaging with media as both creators and consumers. This digital shift has sparked their involvement in local and global conversations, shaping the future of their communities and the nation.

Recognizing this potential, eight youth-serving organizations came together in 2019 to establish Media Smart Youth Ethiopia (MeSY-Eth). Our mission is to promote media literacy and empower young people to become informed, responsible, and active participants in Ethiopia’s democratic life.

At MeSY-Eth, young people lead with genuine adult partnership and together, we’re building a generation that is not only media smart—but also socially conscious, empowered and responsible.

We anchor our work in the principles of positive youth development. Instead of a fear-based model, we take a positive approach to media literacy, encouraging young people to safely explore, create, and critique media while harnessing its vast opportunities for good.

We design flexible, participatory programs that respect and build upon the existing knowledge and digital experiences of young people. Our curriculum is not theoretical; it is applied, equipping youth with hands-on skills they can use immediately.

We leverage the power of our consortium by implementing programs through our member organizations and their vast youth networks. This ensures deep community reach and lasting impact.