YouThink Quarterly Progress Report (April-June 2021)

The program was executed on May 5, 2021, by IREX and USAID, with a cooperative agreement number 72016521CA00003. The program's design draws on IREX's experience with media and information literacy projects and the technical expertise of the Macedonian Institute of Media, the Institute of Communication Studies, and the Youth Educational Forum. The program's objectives are threefold: to increase media literacy among youth, to increase the application of youth media literacy, and to increase the quality and relevance of media developed for and by youth. To achieve these objectives, the program will work with local stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education and Science and its Bureau for Development of Education. The program's initial implementation plan includes several key activities, including the selection of academic subjects and grade levels for media literacy education, the development of a pilot curriculum, and the selection of lead teachers and master teachers. The program will also establish a youth-driven critical information campaign and a network of young media professionals. The program's monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan will track progress and assess the program's impact on media literacy and critical information skills among youth. The program will also cooperate with other donor projects and engage in outreach activities to promote the program's goals and objectives. The program's data security policy will ensure the protection of sensitive information and maintain the confidentiality of program participants. The program's Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR) component will focus on building the capacity of local partners and transferring leadership to local stakeholders. The program's budget is $4,420,000, and it is expected to be completed by May 4, 2026. The program's progress will be reported quarterly, and the final report will be submitted to USAID on May 4, 2026. The program's geographic focus is on North Macedonia, and its timeframes are from May 5, 2021, to May 4, 2026. The program's recommendations include the establishment of a national media literacy strategy, the development of a media literacy curriculum, and the creation of a network of media literacy experts. The program's implementation will be led by IREX, with the support of local partners, including the Macedonian Institute of Media, the Institute of Communication Studies, and the Youth Educational Forum. The program's progress will be monitored and evaluated through regular monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities. The program's recommendations include the establishment of a national media literacy strategy, the development of a media literacy curriculum, and the creation of a network of media literacy experts. The program's implementation will be led by IREX, with the support of local partners, including the Macedonian Institute of Media, the Institute of Communication Studies, and the Youth Educational Forum.