The Karibuni Library, located in Gombe, Karibuni, (DR Congo) hosted the closing ceremony of a two-day intensive workshop on digital citizenship in June 2026. Fifteen participants successfully completed this programme, entitled ‘From the Manipulation of Information to Digital Citizenship’, under the expert guidance of Laurette Mondzola, a member of the Teresian Association, and Allégra Bossay.
The industry of lies
The first part of the training revealed the mechanisms behind disinformation. The facilitators demonstrated that manipulation is an industry that targets our psychological weaknesses. Particular emphasis was placed on confirmation bias: that natural tendency of our brains that leads us to immediately accept information if it reinforces our opinions or prejudices, whilst rejecting anything that contradicts them. Participants realised that this is precisely the mechanism manipulators use to get us to share lies that ‘appeal to us’ or fuel our outrage.
Technical skills
To counter these traps, the workshop transformed the participants into true digital investigators. Through practical exercises, they learnt to use cutting-edge tools such as Google Lens, Yandex, Images and TinEye… These ‘toolkits’ now enable these informed citizens to verify the true origin of any image before trusting it, thereby neutralising attempts at visual manipulation.
The second phase focused on individual ‘digital resilience’. The facilitators guided the students on how to protect their Gmail, Facebook and WhatsApp accounts. Beyond the technical aspects, the discussions centred on the Digital Code in the DR Congo, emphasising that the digital environment is not a lawless zone. A clear message was emphasised: responsible citizens must suspend judgement and systematically verify the facts before clicking or sharing.
‘Mastering these tools and understanding our own biases means moving from being victims to becoming guardians of information,’ the trainers emphasised during the closing ceremony.
Commitment and presentation of certificates
The event concluded with a formal ceremony presided over by the library coordinator, Bernadette Moreau, a member of the Teresian Association. Following a knowledge assessment test, the fifteen participants received their certificates. They return to their communities as ambassadors for credible information, aware that the truth begins with a considered click.
Laurette Mondzola, RD Congo.
TA Translation Team.
Published in News