When Olivier Iradukunda first joined the Burundi Red Cross in 2017, he was just a young volunteer eager to give back to his community. Today, with a degree in health sciences and years of experience leading youth initiatives, he has become a driving force for change. His journey reflects a deep belief in the potential of young people to shape Burundi’s future, a vision that inspired him to create the ITEKA Academy of Young Leaders and, more recently, an ambitious new project: Jeunes Détectives de l’info.

It was during the COVID-19 pandemic—when damaging rumors about infertility and vaccine risks circulated widely—that Olivier realized something profound. “Misinformation doesn’t just mislead—it erodes trust and puts lives at risk,” he recalls. “I heard friends repeat false claims with such conviction. It became clear that we needed to change how information spreads in our communities.”

Inspired by the humanitarian legacy of Henry Dunant and supported by his training in journalism and project management, Olivier began designing a new initiative in 2022. His idea was simple but powerful: empower young people to become Jeunes Détectives de l’info—youth detectives of information—able to detect, analyze, and challenge false narratives.

“I envisioned a generation equipped not only to question misleading content, but to guide others toward clarity and understanding,” he says.

The program began with a five-day training in Bujumbura to form a coordination team, equipping them with technical, facilitation, and ethical skills. These young leaders now mentor their peers in schools, universities, churches, and neighborhoods.

“Our guiding principle was: youth training youth,” Olivier explains. “Once they felt confident, they took their knowledge into their communities, inviting others to pause and verify the information they encountered.”

In 2025, Jeunes Détectives de l’info earned international recognition when it won the Bold New Ideas category of the MDH Challenge, organized by the IFRC Solferino Academy. Harmful information can be misinformation, disinformation or hate speech. As part of the World Disasters Report on the same topic, We hosted the MDH Challenge—. This initiative invited Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff to propose innovative digital or technology-based solutions to address harmful information. Winners receive grants, mentorship, and international visibility. Olivier and his team were awarded a CHF 7,500 grant and technical support to develop their project further. 

“This recognition confirmed that what we are building in Burundi has relevance far beyond our borders,” Olivier says.

The next milestone for Olivier and his team will come on 10 September 2025 with the launch of the first Academy of Truth Ambassadors at Université Sagesse d’Afrique in Bujumbura. The vision is to expand the academies into more universities, leading secondary schools, and eventually all provinces, with special attention to the most vulnerable communities. In parallel, the team is exploring technological applications for fact-checking adapted to the Burundian context.

“Technology shouldn’t divide us—it should empower us,” Olivier affirms. “We want to build tools people can actually use, grounded in our reality.”

Although the initiative is still in its early stages, the impact is already visible. Members of the coordination team have led awareness sessions in their neighborhoods and schools, sparking discussions about verifying information before sharing it. Local leaders have praised the approach as both innovative and timely. “When youth step forward to guide others toward reliable information, the conversation changes,” Olivier observes.

Looking to the future, Olivier dreams of making Jeunes Détectives de l’info a reference not only for Burundi but also for National Societies across the Red Cross and Red Crescent network He recognizes that forming lasting partnerships, securing stable funding, and investing in ongoing technical support are essential for long-term success.

For him, being a humanitarian in the digital age means protecting truth, fostering trust, and ensuring that information strengthens communities rather than divides them. His message to young people everywhere is clear: “Get informed before informing others. Be the generation that illuminates, not confuses. Together, let us become guardians of truth.”