MediaNet International Centre for Journalism Public Foundation with the support of the Nippon Foundation*, is launching the project “Empowering Media and Information Literacy and  Fact-Checking Capability” (FactCheck Dive). 

In the period from January to December 2024, it is planned 

– to conducting online trainings in Kazakh and Russian for 50 students and young professionals aged 18-35 years to study basic tools for verifying information in open sources, debunking photo and video fakes, as well as skills in writing articles and formatting data using multimedia tools and artificial intelligence tools from April to May 2024. 

– conducting a two-day offline workshop with international trainers in Almaty for the top 25 graduates of the online course to improve their knowledge and information verification skills in August-September 2024; 

– conducting two workshops with graduates of the offline training as speakers for 50 schoolchildren of 2 secondary schools in Almaty, including topics of critical thinking and cybersecurity. 

The project focuses on practical training and plans to publish the best works of participants on fact-checking websites. Certificates are supposed to be awarded depending on the level of achievements of participants in trainings and master classes. 

*The Nippon Foundation is a private non–profit organization that provides grants. The Foundation is located in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 1962 by Ryoichi Sasakawa. The Foundation conducts charitable activities and provides humanitarian assistance, including in the social sphere, in the fields of health and education both within the country and abroad.