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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