Social media as an effective tool for social change
One of the strategies adopted by Social Development Forum is to effectively include social media activists and tools in embracing the issues of marginalized and disadvantaged groups and in creating and spreading social change and awareness.
In this context, a number of activities and initiatives are implemented to include social media activists and journalists more in the implementation of this strategy. Among those activities is an initiative called “How do you see it?” which carried out its first activity last week.
More than fifty social media activist have participated in a field tour to a number of Civil Society Organizations operating in the Gaza Strip. This tour is part of the initiative “How Do you See it”, organized by Gaza Online and SDF in partnership with the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity – AMAN.
It concentrates on the idea of integrating media activists, bloggers, and social media activists through creating a direct communication with the target groups without mediators in order for them to effectively express their reality. It calls for the best investment of social media tools since it’s an integral element in social change. It mainly focuses on youth, women, and persons with disabilities’ access to services since they’re the most marginalized in the society, assesses the reality of services and information’s access and their relation to the values of justice, and monitors complaints and violations related to basic services
During the tour, four NGOs were visited: Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children, Save Youth Future Society, Aman – Coalition for Accountability and Integrity, and Aisha Association for Woman and Child Protection. Three interviews took place with women, disabled people, and youth’s representatives. During which, a number of experiences and reviews on access to services were displayed. In addition to a discussion on the desired role of media to support their cases. A campaign was launched on Twitter and other social media using the hash tag (#كيف_شايفها), which was highly reactive by social media users. It became one of the most trending hash tag in Palestine.
“This tour is the first station to work on reinforcing the role of activists and journalists in the process of supporting marginalized and disadvantaged groups, and reinforcing the role of media in creating social change and spreading awareness.” Says Mr. Mohmoud Al-Zant – Director of the Gaza Online Network. He also confirms that participants’ interaction and support for the campaign is a positive indicator towards developing the initiative.