Bareedo Platform Somalia successfully conducted the Induction Training on Civic Education, Electoral Participation, and Digital Engagement for Digital Civic Ambassadors under the DoorashoKaab Program in Garowe, Puntland on June 24, 2026, bringing together 25 young leaders committed to promoting informed civic participation, democratic governance, and electoral transparency across Somalia.
The one-day training marked the beginning of a nationwide capacity-building initiative aimed at equipping Digital Civic Ambassadors with the knowledge, skills, and digital tools needed to educate communities, promote democratic values, encourage citizen participation, and strengthen electoral integrity through technology.
Building the Next Generation of Civic Leaders
The training provided participants with practical knowledge on civic education, elections, democratic participation, digital engagement, and combating misinformation. Through interactive presentations, practical exercises, discussions, quizzes, and live demonstrations, participants enhanced their understanding of their roles as trusted civic educators and community mobilizers.
The training covered five key modules:
- Module 1: Civic Education and Community Engagement
- Module 2: Understanding Elections in Somalia and Puntland
- Module 3: Introduction to the DoorashoKaab Platform and Mobile Application
- Module 4: Digital Literacy, Digital Safety, and Combating Misinformation
- Module 5: Community Mobilization, Democratic Participation, and the Role of Digital Civic Ambassadors
Participants also completed practical exercises, election simulations, platform demonstrations, and knowledge assessments to reinforce learning and prepare them for community outreach.
Learning the DoorashoKaab Platform
A major highlight of the training was the live demonstration of the DoorashoKaab Platform and Mobile Application, where participants learned how to navigate the platform and use its features effectively.
The ambassadors explored how to access:
- Civic education courses
- Verified voter and election information
- Electoral laws, policies, and procedures
- Election resources and updates
- Electoral incident reporting tools
- Community engagement resources
Participants were encouraged to become champions of the platform by promoting its use within schools, universities, youth networks, civil society organizations, and local communities.
Promoting Safe and Responsible Digital Engagement
Recognizing the growing influence of digital platforms on democratic participation, the training also focused on digital literacy and online safety.
Participants learned how to:
- Identify and verify misinformation and disinformation
- Recognize manipulated or AI-generated content
- Use fact-checking tools
- Protect their online accounts through strong passwords and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- Identify phishing, impersonation, and online scams
- Report harmful content across social media platforms
- Practice responsible digital citizenship
These skills will enable ambassadors to promote safer online spaces while strengthening public trust in democratic information.
Digital Civic Ambassadors as Community Leaders
Following the training, participants will serve as Digital Civic Ambassadors within their communities, supporting grassroots civic education, voter awareness, and democratic participation.
Their responsibilities include:
- Delivering civic education within their communities
- Promoting informed electoral participation
- Raising awareness about democratic rights and responsibilities
- Encouraging the use of the DoorashoKaab platform
- Supporting efforts to combat misinformation
- Promoting peaceful, inclusive, and transparent democratic processes
The ambassadors will also participate in continued mentoring, networking, refresher training, and community engagement activities under the DoorashoKaab Program.
Strengthening Democracy Through Civic Technology
The training forms part of Bareedo Platform Somalia’s broader efforts to harness civic technology to strengthen democratic governance and citizen participation in Somalia.
Through DoorashoKaab, citizens can access reliable civic education, verified election information, electoral resources, and secure digital tools that enable meaningful participation in democratic processes.
Bareedo Platform Somalia believes that informed, engaged, and digitally empowered citizens are essential to building transparent, accountable, and inclusive democratic institutions.
The organization extends its sincere appreciation to all participants, facilitators, and partners who contributed to the success of the training.
The DoorashoKaab Program is implemented by Bareedo Platform Somalia with the support of AfricTivistes under the AHEAD Africa and Digitalise Youth projects, led by the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI).
Learn More
🌐 DoorashoKaab: https://doorashokaab.org
🌐 Bareedo Platform Somalia: https://bareedo.org
📱 Download the DoorashoKaab Mobile App and become a more informed and active citizen in strengthening democracy across Somalia.