Title: Journalists from Kasai Central trained in the popularization of traditional knowledge to fight against climate change
The support project for local traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples favorable to mitigating the effects of climate change in Kasai Central in the Democratic Republic of Congo, led by the association BEMPRODRC ASBL, continues. This time, it is a training of fifty journalists from various channels of the province of Kasaï central which was organized to popularize the local traditional knowledge of the indigenous peoples and the Bantus favorable to the mitigation of the effects of climate change. Financed by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) with funds from the European Union, this training took place on May 24 and 25, 2023.
During this training, the journalists were upgraded on the basics of professional journalism and learned to adapt their journalistic style to popularize the local traditional knowledge of the natives and the Bantu. They were also made aware of the role of traditional knowledge in the fight against climate change as well as the negative effects that it can have on the environment.
Indeed, the consequences of climate change on the environment are multiple: rise in temperature, extinction of fauna, reduction of rivers, drought, heat-related illnesses and economic losses. This training, which is part of raising awareness of all sections of the population to this danger, aims to encourage journalists to play a major role in the transmission of information and awareness on climate change.
The president of the dismembered National Union of the Congolese Press (UNPC) Western Kasai section, who also participated in the training, welcomed this initiative and encouraged his colleagues to put into practice the lessons learned from this training to contribute effectively to the fight against the effects of climate change. The organizers, for their part, asked the participants to relay the messages received to sustain this training.
Journalists who have participated in this training will soon receive certificates for their participation in this initiative. We hope that this awareness will contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change in the Democratic Republic of Congo.