Wasla: digital mentorship improving social media performance of a local NGO
Mahmoud El Shafei, 29, works in the advocacy and media program of Nuseirat Rehabilitation and Social Training Association, which was targeted within Wasla Center to improve the digital performance of NGOs working in the field of advocacy for the rights and issues of persons with disabilities. Nuseirat Association uses social media to reach the public, and promote its activities within the community-based rehabilitation programs, in addition to educating the local community about the issues and rights of persons with disabilities.
30 counseling sessions over a period of more than 5 months with topics varying between creating accounts on social media, effective publishing techniques, digital content and its types, applications used to produce high-quality content, creating events and many other important tools, were the best motivation for Mahmoud to develop his skills and to enhance the organization’s digital presence.
Mahmoud shared his experience saying: “One of the most important accomplishments that I achieved this year is my experience in participating in mentoring sessions aimed at developing digital performance. It has added a lot to me, especially with regard to using the association’s social media accounts professionally and the various methods used in that.”. The sessions varied from theoretical to practical. Also, the continued follow-up had a great impact in motivating me to continue to apply what I learned as I didn’t previously understand the basics of publishing and its methods and I was not aware of the importance of variety, whether in the description method used or the nature of the content provided, but today I have the ability to produce distinctive content and periodically and regularly manage its publication on social media, in addition to the plans related to the content that I previously had difficulty in preparing it, but today I have mastered it well.
He added: “The impact of these sessions was not limited to the development of my personal skills, but rather reflected on the progress of the association’s activity on social media. After these sessions, the number of followers and their interaction increased, and this had a noticeable effect that we witnessed through the inquiries that we received, either through the page messages or through comments. We also noticed the increase in the number of visitors on the association’s website.”
In conclusion, the association witnessed remarkable progress after the mentoring sessions presented by Wasla Center team within the project of Improving the Local Response to Advocating the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, implemented the Social Developmental Forum in partnership with the Medical Aid for Palestinians- MAP. Nuseirat Association ability to produce content and manage its publication on social media has improved, which is seen in increasing the rate of public engagement and reach, in addition to enriching digital content that reflects the goals of the association in a modern and periodic way. These sessions also enabled the creation of successful digital advocacy plans that contribute to organizing the work of the association in advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities.