The finalists for Ashoka’s Citizen Media Changemakers Competition have been announced and voting is now open!  And guess what!? There are two finalists from the Arab World:

Meedan combines technology, translation and training to amplify citizen voices from the Middle East.  You can find out more about them in the video below:

Crowdvoide.Org offers a new way to view, share, moderate and organize information about human rights movements and demonstrations.  Find out more in the video below:

To vote for either of these candidates visit:

http://www.changemakers.com/citizenmedia

Voting ends in Ten Days!

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Arab Spring, Ashoka, Ashoka Arab World, Bahrain, Changemakers, Citizen Media, Egypt, Revolution, Social Entrepreneurship ]]> http://ashokaarabworld.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/changemakers-citizen-media-competition-now-open-for-voting/feed/ 0 ashokaarabworld http://ashokaarabworld.wordpress.com/2011/10/02/vote-for-ashoka-arab-world-fellow-mohamed-abou-el-nagas-el-nafeza-in-the-bbc-world-challenge/ http://ashokaarabworld.wordpress.com/2011/10/02/vote-for-ashoka-arab-world-fellow-mohamed-abou-el-nagas-el-nafeza-in-the-bbc-world-challenge/#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2011 08:36:01 +0000 Administrator http://ashokaarabworld.wordpress.com/?p=805 ]]>

Vote for Ashoka Arab World Fellow Mohamed Abou El Naga’s El Nafeza for the BBC World Challenge 2011!  

El Nafeza was established in 2007 to revive traditional papermaking in Egypt – partly as a way of getting rid of agricultural wastes that are typically burned, resulting in choking black clouds. El Nafeza organises workshops in papermaking for disadvantaged young people (80 to 90 percent of its employees are deaf and mute). The Foundation has also established specialised training centres to teach the art and technique of high quality paper making from rice husks, Nile water lilies, and banana stalks. The handmade paper products are exhibited and sold both within Egypt and internationally.

Ashoka Arab World would like to invite you to its “Open House” on Saturday, October 1^st at the Flameco Hotel in Zamalek, Cairo.

Come find out how YOU can be a “Champion”, a Volunteer, an Intern or Staff candidate and use your skills to help Ashoka maximize the impact of our initiatives both in Egypt and throughout the region.

10:30am -1:00pm: Open House

Come talk with Ashoka staff and Fellows about how you can get involved with Ashoka’s initiatives.  Help us spread the message of “Everyone a Changemaker.”

1:00 pm: Q/A

A group Question and Answer session with Ashoka Arab World regional director and Vice President of Ashoka Global, Dr. Iman Bibars.

What is an Ashoka “Champion”?

An Ashoka Champion is someone who is committed to promoting Ashoka’s mission of “Everyone a Changemaker”.  A Champion devotes a significant amount of their free time monthly towards advocating, spreading the word, and assisting a specific Ashoka initiative, whether it is AIN, Collaborative Platforms, WISE, or any other of our current projects.  A Champion is most likely a young professional who while employed in a separate field, has a passion and commitment to social entrepreneurship and being a “Changemaker”. Champions play a critical role in maximizing the impact of Ashoka’s initiatives.

What is an Ashoka Volunteer?

An Ashoka volunteer has a passion for changemaking and social entrepreneurship. Volunteering with Ashoka is a way to get involved with Ashoka initiatives without the same significant time and energy commitment that being a “Champion” would entail.  A volunteer works with Ashoka to craft a schedule and deliverable outcomes of their volunteering within various Ashoka projects.  This can involve advocacy, collaborative platforms, WISE, AIN, outreach, translation, consulting, or many other needs that Ashoka has throughout our numerous projects.

For more information please visit the facebook page for the event: 

Saturday, Oct 1^st

Flamenco Hotel, Zamalek, Cairo

10:30am-2pm

RSVP: Events@Ashoka-Arab.org

The Ashoka Innovation Network (AIN) is a forum for early-to mid-career professionals who have a passion for social change and an interest in social entrepreneurship.

AIN convenes Egypt’s leading business and social entrepreneurs in informal gatherings to foster innovation and idea sharing and to promote the idea of “Everyone a Changemaker.”

AIN events are an opportunity for young professionals to network with like-minded individuals and bridge the business/social divide by learning ways to leverage their professional skills to achieve social impact.

This month’s AIN event will focus on the idea of using Social Entrepreneurship to improve Egypt’s education sector. The event will feature talks and round-table discussions led by Ashoka Arab World Fellows Azza Kamel (Alwan wa Awtar) and Maged Hosny (IDSC), as well as AIN Challenge winners Educate-Me.

Come and network, learn, discuss, and be a Changemaker.

Space is limited, and in order to attend the event YOU MUST RSVP TO:

Media@Ashoka-Arab.org

for more information visit the event page on Facebook

Ashoka Arab World (AAW) is working closely with Boehringer Ingelheim representative offices in Dubai and Egypt to bring the Making More Health partnership to the region.  In order to identify and support the leading social entrepreneurs expanding health in the Arab world, AAW is actively seeking to elect an Ashoka Fellow with innovative solutions in the health sector.  This includes any initiatives that target aging, disability, health care, infant health, maternal health, mental health and wellness.  If you have a new idea or know of someone who does, please visit our website to find out more about our nomination process.

Another @Changemakers Competition!

The Making More Health competition, launched by Ashoka’s Changemakers in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, seeks innovative models that are transforming the field of health to sustainably increase the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

We welcome solutions and collaborations along the entire health continuum, from prevention and lifestyle, to detection and treatment. Eligible initiatives may target a wide variety of populations throughout the world and include (but are not limited to) those that:

• Increase access to quality health services and treatment: Innovations may incorporate strategies such as addressing cultural and financial barriers, lack of transportation, decentralized medical resources, and gaps in education and knowledge.
  Solutions may include initiatives for disease prevention and diagnosis, developing healthy lifestyles, or advocacy and awareness programs relevant to any life stage.
• Empower individuals, families, and communities to address local health issues:Innovations may engage and inform individuals, families, and communities, and allow them to directly participate in the management of their own health. These span a range of solutions from communal patient care initiatives to programs that nurture a culture of health within communities.
• Target vulnerable and underserved populations: Entries may include those that address conflict and/or post-crisis environments, poverty and development as related to health, mental health, or rural health.

The potential to accelerate progress in the field of health is enormous. Help individuals, families, and communities achieve good health by submitting or nominating a solution today.
Find out more and enter over on the Changemakers website!