UN House, Manama: Participants in a panel discussion on Monday expressed the importance of joint efforts to consolidate constructive social media discussions, which contribute to the development of communities, and encourages initiatives aimed at active participation in that development.
The event was organized by The United Nations Development Program in coordination with “Media Balcony” youth group, with the presence of youth representatives from General Organization for Youth and Sports, Ministry of Social Development, non-government youth organizations.
During the outset of the panel discussion, U.N Resident coordinator, Peter Grohmann, expressed his gratification for the active participation of Media, social, cultural and intellectual personnel in this panel discussion, which is being organized in line with “Social Good Summit 2014”, being held in in New York City.
Grohmann voiced the importance of technology to promote these goals, stressing on the significant role of civil society organizations, media outlets, and the youth sector to instill the principles that assist in achieving developmental aspirations, with prosperity, justice, and world peace being the topmost priority.
Grohmann asserted that this could be the beginning of more thorough discussion we could have in the future, and that young participants attending the panel are expected to suggest some productive means to utilize the new media platforms; pushing forward the developmental agenda in their small communities. He added that the engagement with media (especially the social media) could lead to innovative ideas, and solutions that could make a difference in communities’ life.
He gave an example of success made by some young Bahrainis who have started their own business utilizing “Instagram” as an effective tool of marketing. Businesses including selling home-made food and sweets, selling clothes and other commodities, were some of the panel discussion revolved around two main themes: The first being the role of technology in development, and the latter highlighted the important role the youth play in pushing forward the post 2015 goals, through the use of technology and social media. Informative materials related to the universal summit “Social Good Summit 2014”, which is synchronized with the U.N General Assembly’s meetings, were displayed. Hashtag #2030NOW has been used during the event, with more usage to come in the coming days by the entities they represent. A small clip of the event has been shot and will be uploaded, while a longer clip of about 4 minutes will be produced in the coming 4 days.
Participation presented some value ideas, which will be resulted in establishing a group social media account that focuses on many platforms such as: combined efforts of the private and public sectors on the national level to provide initiatives and programs that cultivates the development goals.
“Youth developmental initiatives that utilize the social media will be the focus of our efforts in the coming two years. Today’s meeting has put some grounds for more discussions to come within the different groups that attended today’s panel”. She added that the next meeting, which will uses all principles and ideas discussed in the Social Good Summit 2014, will take place in the Balcony’s premises and invitation has already been extended to all participants in today’s panel,” Media Balcony Managing Director Zahra Haram, said.
“Youth Innovation Center” he is presiding will encourage researchers, bloggers, those who work in the media, and university professors to participate in an online discussion Panel the Center is organizing next month to enrich the online national discussions and conventional media with contributions that trigger positive change within youth community. Post 2015 Agenda, among all relevant issued discussed in the Social Good Summit will be among issues to be discussed,” General Organization for Youth and Sports, Al Kareem Al Meer, said.
At the end of the panel, an agreement has been reached among participants to continue the cooperation with the different segments of the community that met during today’s panel, to define the areas of the “Social Good Summit 2014”, through focusing combined effort of the private and public sectors on the national level to provide initiatives and programs that cultivates the development goals.