A training course on advocacy and social media concludes

The Pal-Think for Strategic Studies institution concluded the second training course, titled “Advocacy and social media”, which comes within the project “Strengthening the democratic and civic values of the youth” funded by the Canadian government, with the participation of “25” young men and women of the university students from the various geographical areas in the Gaza Strip.

The course was opened by Mr Omar Shaban, director of the Pal-Think for Strategic Studies institution, welcoming the participating youth, before affirming the necessity of focusing on the youth's role and the extent of their influence on society through pressure and the use of “social media” to convey their issues and problems to the world.

The course, presented by the trainer Ali Bkhait, president of the Social Media Club – Palestine, and the trainer Mahmoud al-Taweel, member of the Social Media Club, over three days, included becoming acquainted with the history of the media from ancient times up to social media.

The concept of social media was reviewed, along with its traits and social characteristics and the ethics of using the social-networking sites and their controls.

The trainer Mahmoud al-Taweel said that the social-communication means are considered, at the present time, the fundamental pillar for the youth, making clear that this strengthens their role in using them to develop themselves and convey good content that reflects the culture of Palestinian society, Arab-wide and internationally.

He pointed out that the social-networking sites have given everyone the chance to become acquainted with the world, indicating that this strengthens our role in how to communicate well with the outside world.

The participants likewise learned how to use the social-networking sites and their importance, and how to keep away from the common mistakes in using the electronic sites, in addition to international advocacy via social media, with the goal of how to deal with the Western media and address it by the Palestinians.

The participants praised the importance of this course, which contributed to raising their level of awareness and knowledge in the field of social media, the electronic-crimes law, and the mechanisms of communicating with the outside world and the Western media.

Mr Omar Shaban concluded the course by affirming the necessity of strengthening the youth's role through the social-networking sites and taking up their issues and concerns on the communication platforms, whose effect has become clear in changing the reality through the pressure and advocacy campaigns to serve society and the Palestinian cause.

This project comes with funding from the Canadian government and continues for six months, and includes ten educational lectures and three radio episodes on the issues of democracy and political development in Palestinian society, in addition to three training courses in subjects related to fighting corruption and strengthening the instruments of societal accountability and transparency in Palestinian society.