Empower Peace 240 Commercial St.
Suite 2B Boston, MA 02109
Program in Development
The AMAL Institute-2013 (“The Hope Institute-2013”). Empower Peace will create and produce a MENA region-wide institute for youth (ages 15 to 25 years) on the topic of the use of Social Media in Civic Engagement and Service Learning. Modeled in a large part after the extremely successful, TED conferences, this program will focus on having established and prominent social media experts presenting on various technologies and engagement strategies as they relate to the civic engagement and service learning worlds. These experts will be from both the region and around the world. Working with and through a region-wide media partner, US Embassies and established non-profits in the region, the Institute would look to recruit delegations of youth activists from throughout the expanded MENA region.
This four-day program will also feature an Oscar-type award presentation where select groups of regional youth will be highlighted and receive special recognition for their innovative and impactful use of social media. Additionally, an exhibition area will be constructed where both new technologies and the youth delegations and their efforts will be showcased. Tracks of educational workshops will be conducted on subject matter ranging from: “Winning Votes On-line” to “Blogging to Make A Difference” to “Organizing through Facebook.” Summit delegates will be encouraged to present applications for micro grants to support their cyber-based social initiatives that will be reviewed by a panel of experts and could be awarded post summit.
Initial goal for conference participants will be 250-300 (approximately 10 delegates from each of the 28 countries that comprise the broader MENA region). Delegates will be housed at, and the institute will emanate from, a college campus in a MENA region country. Specific segments of the program will also be webcast live to interested parties and youth everywhere and be archived for video on demand viewing on the Empower Peace website. Additionally, a made for TV special can be produced around the AMAL AWARDS ceremony.
