Esra'a Al-Shafei

Esra'a Al-Shafei
Born (1986-07-23) July 23, 1986
Nationality Bahraini
Organization Mideast Youth
Religion Muslim[1]
Website

www.mideastyouth.com

www.crowdvoice.org

Esra'a Al-Shafei is a Bahraini civil rights activist, blogger, and the founder and executive director of Mideast Youth and its related projects, including CrowdVoice.org.[2] Al-Shafei is a senior TED Fellow,[3] an Echoing Green fellow,[4] and has been referred to by CNN reporter George Webster as "An outspoken defender of free speech".[5] She has been featured in FastCompany as one of the "100 Most Creative People in Business."[6] In 2011, The Daily Beast listed Al-Shafei as one of the 17 bravest bloggers worldwide.[7] She is also a promoter of music as a means of social change,[5] and founded Mideast Tunes, which is currently the largest platform for underground musicians in the Middle East and North Africa. [8]

Al-Shafei is a recipient of the Berkman Award for Internet Innovation from Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School in 2008 for "outstanding contributions to the internet and its impact on society."[9] In 2012, she received a Shuttleworth Foundation Fellowship for her work on the open source platform CrowdVoice.org.[10] She is also the recipient of the Monaco Media Prize, which acknowledges innovative uses of media for the betterment of humanity. [11] In 2014, she was featured in Forbes' "30 Under 30" list of social entrepreneurs making an impact in the world. [12] The World Economic Forum listed her as one of "15 Women Changing the World in 2015."[13]

Background

Esra'a Al-Shafei, according to her own account, recalls witnessing inhumane treatment of migrant workers as a child. This, along with stereotypical media portrayals of middle eastern youth, prompted her to found the Mideast Youth network.[14] Over time, the network expanded to include other civil rights issues within the Middle East, and branched out to create a diverse range of platforms with a global reach.

We want our humanity and our futures in our own hands and we use the internet and other forms of technology to fight for those rights.
Esra'a Al-Shafei[14]

See also

References

  1. Manav Tanneeru (August 4, 2009). "Young Muslims turn to technology to connect, challenge traditions". CNN. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  2. "Archiving the world, one protest at a time". Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  3. "TED fellows directory". TEDGlobal 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  4. "Echoing Green fellows directory". Echoing Green 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  5. 1 2 George Webster (March 12, 2010). "YouTube gives Bahraini youth window to world". CNN. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  6. "the 100 most creative people in business in 2011".
  7. "World's Bravest Bloggers".
  8. Chalfoun, Romeo. "Mideast Tunes Hosts 1300 Underground Bands from the MENA". ArabNet. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  9. Berkman Award for Internet Innovation for Mideast Youth in 2008.
  10. Shuttleworth Foundation Fellowship.
  11. Andy Plesser (November 11, 2011). "Bahraini Blogger Wins Monaco Media Prize". Business Insider. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  12. William White (January 7, 2014). "Who Topped the Forbes 30 Under 30 List?". InvestorPlace. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  13. Parker, Ceri. "15 Women Changing the World in 2015". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  14. 1 2 Simon Columbus (July 19, 2009). "Interview with Esra’a Al Shafei on freedom of expression in the Middle East". Gulli. Retrieved April 28, 2011.

External links


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