The Ministry of Youth and Culture, with the support of UNDP, launched a social media campaign dubbed “#GumaMuRugoYouthChallenge” with the aim of raising awareness among the youth and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This innovative communication campaign was also meant to encourage youth to stay productive during the lockdown period and ensure a maximum adherence and promotion of the coronavirus prevention measures.

The challenge consisted of recording a video (2min max) that demonstrates different activities they were engaging in to show their capabilities and posting it using the hashtag #GumaMuRugoYouthChallenge

The challenge ran from April 20 - 30, 2020 and all submissions were done through the Ministry of Youth’s social media. For the youth who do not access social media, specific radio shows were organized whereby youth called in to share their submissions.

As an official launch of the campaign, the Minister of State in charge of Culture Edouard Bamporiki recorded a short video highlighting what he had been able to do during the lockdown and shared it on twitter. In the video, he shared a 250-page book he was writing and invited young women and men, particularly artistes and creators to make use of their talent and skills while staying home.

“Dear fellow countrymen, as we continue to stay at home at this time, which is the only efficient measure to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, let us continue to use this time to do things that add value to our lives and contribute to national development,” he asked.

“Therefore, I encourage youths, particularly, artists and those with different talents to keep on creating, designing, composing, innovating and using the different gifts you have to make use of this period,” he added.

According to the Ministry of Youth, more than 2000 youth exchanged information, experience and lessons learnt on COVID19, while more than 1200 youth submitted their two minutes videos sharing their solutions and activities which positively impact their mental and physical health, learning journeys and families.