HOW THE YOUTH CAN SHED LIGHT ON IMPORTANT PROBLEMS THEY CARE ABOUT

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By Alina Campbell

If there’s something to admire in particular about our younger generations, it is their willingness to get involved in current social issues and actively combat problems like discrimination, social injustice and corruption. Young people vigorously seek out content relating to current issues from different parts of the world –– from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to police reform in the U.S., to the mass incarceration of Uyghurs in China. From there, they seek to spread awareness and initiate helpful actions.

Young people’s ability to effortlessly navigate new forms of media, as well as create, share and discuss content can be a powerful source for change. However, their intention to push towards progress can be limited at times by the methods they use to spread a message. In the following sections, I will outline a few efforts and factors that could mitigate this issue and greatly improve young people’s ability to shed light on important problems.

SPREADING MEDIA LITERACY

Young generations have grown up in a world with social media, and are therefore more skilled at using social than people in their 40s or above. This does not mean, however, that they can always accurately identify false, misleading, or otherwise inaccurate content. In other words, it does not mean they have flawless media literacy.

The ability to distinguish between objective media with reliable sources and nonsense or propaganda is particularly important if young people are planning to combat misinformation about important subjects. It is for this reason that talk of media literacy as a school subject is growing louder, and this would be a positive step! But in the meantime, young people seeking to do good have a responsibility to prioritize responsible media consumption and sharing

BECOMING BETTER COMMUNICATORS

It is not enough for young people to have a platform and something important to say. It is also necessary to understand how to build a clear and convincing message. An individual can do a lot of research regarding the role of major corporations on climate change, for instance, but their message on the same subject could come as boring, easily dismissed, or simply uninteresting if it’s not properly crafted.

In order to build a clear and persuasive message, young people first have to acquire the necessary skills (even if they happen to be capable natural communicators!). Those in college or pursuing higher education in other forms would do well to focus on marketing studies, through which they can learn how to construct accurate and convincing messages for specific audiences. Alternatively, courses in liberal studies can be quite helpful as well, given the typical influence on skills like writing and editing. Learning the actual craft of composition will benefit young messengers in everything from constructing Twitter threads to submitting essays on topics they care about.

SEEKING POSITIONS OF INFLUENCE

Having the right message doesn’t always make a difference without an audience that trusts the people behind that message. It is for this reason that building a strong social media following across multiple channels is advisable for those who hope to influence discussions as individuals. Having said that, the significance of more traditional positions of influence should not be underestimated.

As much as young people are portrayed as being out on their own as they are working remotely, establishing personal brands online, and seeking leadership roles in a variety of opportunities from charitable organizations to large companies is important as well. Whether we like it or not, large organizations carry significant sway over the causes they are involved with, either naturally or by choice. The more that young, powerful messages push their way into positions of influence in such organizations, the more power they will have to turn messages into actions.

IN CONCLUSION

Young generations have always been the spearheads of social change, whether we are talking about the Vietnam protests in the 1970s, the Velvet Revolution in 1989, the Arab Spring in 2010, or even the movements against racial injustice we’ve witnessed of late across much of the western world.

In the 2020s, however, young people face new challenges like massive campaigns of misinformation financed by private entities and governments from all around the world. In order to counter the negative effects of these challenges on society, it’s necessary to work harder to develop and spread effective messaging. The efforts and strategies outlined above can make for a great start.

Alina Campbell is a UK-based writer and the mother of two wonderful children. A former tech blogger, she is working to expand her reach into coverage of current events, social trends, and lifestyle content while working a tech job from home.

Who is Alina Campbell?

Alina Campbell is a UK-based writer and the mother of two wonderful children. A former tech blogger, she is working to expand her reach into coverage of current events, social trends, and lifestyle content while working a tech job from home.

DR. RAJENDRAN GOVENDER: A REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF SERVICE AND EMPOWERMENT

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rajendran-blog-images-5-1088976In a world filled with heroes, it is often the unsung ones who leave the most lasting impact on society. Dr Rajendran Govender, a distinguished Advisory Board member of the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF), has emerged as one such unsung hero. Hailing from South Africa, Dr Govender’s life journey is a testament to the transformative power of dedication, kindness, and selflessness. Recently recognized as an Unsung Hero by the South African Unsung Heroes Foundation, he has devoted his life to making a significant difference in the lives of others.

Dr. Govender’s journey began in Malagazi, Isipingo, to humble working-class parents. Faced with financial constraints, he initially worked as a stock controller and truck driver to support himself. However, his determination to pursue education propelled him forward. Through diligent savings and hard work, he embarked on a career as an educator.

His passion for learning led him to join the public service, where he excelled in various roles within the KZN Department of Arts & Culture. Alongside his professional commitments, he pursued postgraduate studies and earned both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in cross-cultural studies. Dr. Govender’s exceptional academic journey was complemented by his post-doctoral research at Columbia University in New York.

rajendran-blog-images-3-768x1024-1773729rajendran-blog-images-1-768x1024-6642569Despite facing serious health challenges and undergoing numerous surgeries, Dr. Govender’s dedication to serving society remained unwavering. Over the years, he has held multiple leadership positions in both governmental and non-governmental organizations. Presently, he serves as a member of various significant structures, including the South African Human Rights Commission, the Advocacy Unified Network, the Africa Kingdom Diaspora Alliance, and more.

Dr. Govender’s tireless community service has not gone unnoticed. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, including the Nelson Mandela Peace and Hope Award, the Rotary International Award, and the Junior Chamber Four Outstanding Young South Africans Award, to name a few. Each accolade reflects his exceptional dedication to fostering positive race relations and cultural diversity in South Africa and Africa at large.

Upon retirement, the South African government recognized his commitment by appointing him as a Social Cohesion Advocate. In this role, he leads a Rapid Response Task Team addressing pressing issues such as racism, xenophobia, and gender-based violence. His commitment to empowering others is further exemplified through his consultancy, Mzansi Empowerment Enterprise (MEE), which focuses on skills development, training, research, and diversity management.

rajendran-blog-images-2-9689200Dr. Govender’s journey from a modest upbringing to becoming a changemaker and influencer is nothing short of awe-inspiring. His unwavering dedication to uplifting communities and promoting social cohesion serves as a beacon of inspiration for countless individuals. Through his efforts, he has not only improved the lives of those he has directly impacted but also kindled a spirit of compassion and service that can ripple through generations.

Dr. Govender’s life story is a testament to the transformative power of resilience, education, and unwavering dedication to the betterment of society. As an Unsung Hero, he has become a role model for all those who seek to make a positive impact in their communities. The Journalists and Writers Foundation is proud to have such a remarkable individual as a valued Advisory Board member. Dr. Govender’s journey reminds us of that ordinary individuals, through extraordinary acts of kindness, can create a world filled with hope, compassion, and positive change.

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Egypt Abuses Internet Fredooms While Women Face High Levels of Sexual Violence

By Kelly Alvarado and Claudia Motley

The internet has become an essential part of our lives, and various platforms allow millions of people around the world to express themselves. So what happens when this freedom becomes prosecutable by government law?

Since April, ten young Egyptian influencers were prosecuted for posting content on TikTok. These women alluded the government’s attention because of their spread of “immoral” and “indecent” videos.

“The imprisonment of some opposition figures including comics, writers and youtubers who criticize the regime are selective acts that do not actually defend society’s morals or national security,” Jihan Zakarriya, author of ‘Vulnerability, resistance and sexuality in revolutionary Egypt,’ said. “Rather, they denounce the credibility of the government.”

Egypt strictly monitors online social media activity to analyze posts that go against traditional Egyptian values, and many websites have been blocked for state security. Amnesty International reported that in 2018, Egyptian authorities arrested over 113 individuals on charges such as: “satire, tweeting, supporting football clubs, denouncing sexual harassment, editing movies, giving or conducting interviews,” All under the guise of “state security.”

Since the President of Egypt, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, came to power in 2014, hundreds of journalists, activists, and lawyers have been arrested for content they’ve published online. According to the Human Rights Organization, Egyptian authorities have blocked 600 domains since May 2017.

“In Egypt, there is a systematic focus on national security issues that sends a clear message that opposition and dissent will bring chaos and violence,” Zakarriya said. “Egyptian government’s prosecution of female Tiktok influencers is an overt expression of the ongoing discrimination and revenge against women,” she said.

Internet censorship is a recurring theme in the Middle East, as well as other countries. The internet, though prided for its ability to give voice to the global public, is now often used by government authorities in countries like China and Saudi Arabia as a means of influencing foreign politics.

In China, Twitter users faced prosecution as a result of the nation’s high level of online surveillance. Additionally, Turkey has blocked social media apps like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Saudi Arabia in following suit, has monitored social media posts and has been detaining progressive activists for going against the regime. In the latest edition of Freedom on the Net, an annual report published by the independent research organization Freedom House, over half of the 65 countries assessed had declining internet freedoms.

Similar to Saudi Arabia, women’s rights activists in Egypt are being detained by security forces for campaigning for the prosecution of several accused rapists. Egyptian women have been raising their voices in recent weeks, detailing on social media the sexual assaults they say they have endured. A 2013 U.N. report on women showed 99.3 percent of women and girls are subjected to sexual harassment in Egypt.

“Sexual assault/harassment is prevalent in Egypt,” Zakarriya said.  “Egyptian women go through different forms of public sexual violence and harassment. women are harassed in streets, shops, public transportation, schools, workplaces. Women do not report sexual harassment because the judicial and legal systems are biased,” she said.

Social media has played an important role in women’s rights movements in the past, notably in 2018 during the #MeToo movement. The phenomenon–which originated in the United States–expanded across the globe, gaining traction in dozens of other countries. According to a study at the Qatar Computing Research Institute, social media has the capacity to offer better representation for women in regions with large gender inequalities.

The Egyptian Council of Representatives has approved a draft law that would protect victims of sexual violence and encourages the reporting of sexual crimes. Sexual assaults have long gone unpunished in Egypt and a new draft law has the potential for change.

“I think the new draft law regarding sexual harassment victims in Egypt is a good step. Zakarriya, said. “It is a direct declaration of state responsibility and accountability for protecting women,” she said.