web 2.0,women's empowerment,social networking

I am most fascinated by the power of the web to reach out to a much wider audience, as compared to the traditional media. More importantly, the opportunity it offers to just about anybody with a story to tell the world is so amazing. It is such a relief and an outlet, especially to the multitude of people who wouldn’t have to pass through an editor or any “gate-keeper”, to make their voices heard.

Regarding solutions web 2.0 brings to global women’s empowerment; firstly, it creates a forum for women throughout the world to share their experiences with others in another corner of the globe. This creates a feeling of oneness, as more women tend to communicate freely, understanding that it’s a global fight that cuts across regional or geographic boundaries.

Secondly, web 2.0 through social community, offers women a means of impacting others with empowerment ideologies and policies. This makes it therefore, not just a forum for sharing experiences, but also for educating other women at large who maybe experiencing similar conditions, but do not know how to handle it nor have the courage to speak out.

Thirdly, the experience of a social community can translate to a real-time “action forum” thanks to web 2.0. It is good to share personal experiences; it is better when these stories educate those who’re ignorant of trends affecting them or how to react; but it is best when women undergoing any form of plight are helped through such interaction. Web 2.0 can lead women to mobilise and take action towards this end, either through inter-personal social networking or as a group.

I’ve been for sometime engaged in writing articles for the web and interacting in social media network sites like Facebook, Tweeter and Linked In, based on an awareness of the power of web 2.0 in networking as well as a personal liking in the art. However, I feel the need for proper mastery of the technical skills required in creating and managing such a forum, and I believe this training by World Pulse would give me that. More so, I hope to put acquired skills to use, by implementing a media project geared towards improving on the lives of women, through information and social networking.