Youth Leaders Discuss the Digital Generation and Social Change #WPFD

I saw this interesting blogpost on WPFD's website and thought to share:

published by Georgetown Univ... on Mon, 05/02/2011 - 13:31

 

Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizada spent 17 months in jail for posting a YouTube video.
As the leaders of a popular youth movement in Azerbaijan, the two gained fame for posting a video online, which criticized the government for spending significant amounts of money importing donkeys from Germany.
Joining a discussion of youth media tactics Monday at the World Press Freedom Day Conference by Skype, the two argued that censorship in their Eastern European country happens mostly off-line.
“There's no actual censorship online in Azerbijian,” Hajizada said, “However, people who are active online are being persecuted in real life.”
They joined other youth journalism leaders, Shiv Bhaskar Dravid founder of The Viewspaper; Jennifer Ehidiamen, a Nigerian Journalist for Celebrating Progress Africa, and the Global Press Institute,; and Maria Sadovskaya, of European Radio for Belarus.
Panelists noted that young people make up a majority in countries such as Nigeria and India, while Facebook is the most popular website in Belarus. They argued this gives them unprecedented political influence in those countries.
“My role [as a journalist] is to create content that will inspire young people,” Ehidiamen said, adding that in the past, Nigerian youths were to be “seen and not heard,” but the access to social media has given them a voice that can influence government.
As a young person, Dravid said he experienced, “a huge disconnect between older generations and us,” leading him to start The Viewspaper, which describes itself as “the voice of the youth.”
Sadovskaya said it is exactly this demographic that European Radio for Belarus is trying to engage because she thinks they are underrepresented by traditional media.
“Young people [are] the least targeted group of population by the independent media and, at the same time, the most targeted by authorities," she said. "The government has introduced the state ideology courses in schools, universities and even kindergartens. They are trying to brainwash young people to make sure when they are grown up they are either loyal or at least indifferent.”
By Allison Brennan, Georgetown University Student Press Team
(Additional reporting by Annie McBride)

Panel for Breakout Session 1.5 "Digital Natives: The New Media Generation."  On Screen: Adnan Hajizada, Emin Milli; L to R, Maria Sadovskaya, Jason Rzepka, Shiv Bhaskar Dravid and Jennifer Ehidiamen. 
Photo by: Allison Brennan

Shiv Bhaskar Dravid of The Viewspaper takes the podium during the panel discussion.
Photo by: Ayesha Venkataraman

Where are you heading?

 Imagine the creation of everything on earth without a desirable goal. Wouldn’t it look awkward? We accomplish things by directing our desire and not by ignoring them.

A goal-less life is like the case of a man who wakes up in the morning, sets out of his home to a location unspecified and unknown to him, and then at dusk, he returns to his home.

For everything under the surface of the earth, there is a purpose or reason for which it is created or invented.

Too many people do not know where they are going but they are on their way; if you do not know where you are going, you will probably end someplace else. The man who has no direction is the slave of his own circumstance.

Most people think that the only way to live a satisfactory and happy life is to be filled with diverse talents but the amazing truth is that more men fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent. Having the talent is just not enough. Without it being given a direction, it is as good as useless. 

It will interest you to know that firmness of purpose is the most necessary sinews of character and one of the best instruments of success. Without it, genius wastes its efforts in a maze of inconsistencies.

If you do not have a vision for your life, then you probably have not focused in on anything. in the absence of vision, there can be no clear and constant focus. Once your purpose is well cut and laid out, well defined, decisions will not be far from your reach.

Have a definite sense of direction and purpose for your life and you will soon realize that successful lives are motivated by dynamic purpose.

Visualizing things entails a person having the right picture of his dream, how he would go about it how he wants it and how it should be done.

When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand; it will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it.

Some think that the position they find themselves in is as a result of what fate has in store for them. But dear, it is very much advisable that you don’t resign to fate. As soon as you resign to fate, your resignation is promptly accepted. Knowing the purpose for your existence is the only determinant to knowing the step to take and the angle to approach a particular challenge; it is the driving force to great achievements.

By Joy Ekeledo (joybecky57@yahoo.com)

  Joy Ekeledo is a first year student of Nigerian Institute of Journalism. She is passionate about inspiring other young people and this week featured on Dis Generation as a guest columnist.

Set yourself up for success!

Keeping in mind the importance of learning from the past, I asked a few youth leaders to identify their high point for 2010…learning from its success and looking forward 2011…

Wait for no one

Esther Eshiet, a human sexuality educator and women and girls' rights activist said: “Wait for no one.” On July 2010, she was conferred with the Moremi Fellowship in Ghana. Moremi Initiative for Women's Leadership in Africa strives to engage, inspire and equip young women and girls to become the next generation of leading politicians, activists, social entrepreneurs and change agents. The initiative yearly selects young girls under 25years of age, who have displayed leadership in different endeavors. For lessons learn in 2010, Esther said “I have learnt to go with my instincts and it has been a decisive year for me. I have high hopes for the year 2011; It will be a spectacular year!" On 2011 cue to other young people, she advised them to read wide, look around and solve a problem, not to accept the status quo but to act differently for a better result.

Giving is living

Femi Aderibigbe, the Executive Director of ImpactHouse on his high point for 2010, “I was invited on the basis of the Civil Society Partnership with Lagos State. So I represented Lagos State Civil Society Partnership- LACSOP.” He was the only youth sitting on the panel, a unique opportunity to work with the Commissioner of Health, and other Directors of the ministry on the 2011 operational plan for Lagos State. Although it was a hectic engagement, he said, “I feel favored to contribute my quota to the process of good governance in Lagos State.” Reflecting on lessons learned in 2010 and looking forward to 2011, Femi advises that we should in 2011 shirk the “what is in it for me” attitude. “The primary mission of man on earth is to give.” Then he added “Youth must discover who they are and the skills they are endowed with- this ought to be the source of their giving…it is more of our essence of living."

God First, then the right people

Chioma Chukwuneta, a professional Accountant wraps up the discourse with her remarkable words “My highest point in 2010 is being commended at the end of my service year (NYSC) for my community development project.” To young people, “my advice is seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and every thing good will be added to you. Stay focused and mix up with the right people.

Be Bold

No matter how ecstatic 2010 was for me, like everyone else, I had a high and low. But, I learned not to waste time mulling over failures. Learn from experience. Be bold. Set yourself up for success and take a leap of faith! Have a fabulous New Year!