Web.2.0, Women's powerful weapon for change
by sibongile zgambo | September 11, 2011 at 9:40 AM
With domestic violence on the increase in most African countries like Malawi, web 2.0 acts as a shield to women who are abused and victimized in different ways.
Some women who do not have a voice or are unable to solve problems on their own, find comfort or solutions through web 2.0 by interacting with fellow women and in so doing they become empowered.
Web 2.0 is a platform on which new media, social media and social networking takes place. It is a set of applications( tools) which allows a person to interact with other people online easily.
Additionally , web 2.0 gives me a plat form to access many opportunities on my job as a a journalist and it has transformed my life tremendously.
For example, i can communicate with my friends, colleagues and family members through face book, twitters, emails, ETC. Through the web 2.0 i have discovered new ways on how i can improve to empower women and fight for their rights more . Life is much easier using web 2.0.
The web has also provided me an opportunity to access training programmes to other countries..
Just last month, i attended a training workshop in South Africa on Campaign for Tobacco Free kids from 12 th August 2011 to 15th August. If it was not for the web, i would not have come across such a training.
Apart from that, issues affecting women that were being silenced for along time within communities are now amplified on a global stage through the web.
Most women through web 2.0 find opportunities across the globe to challange existing ideas and they are able to expose under- reported issues within their communities. Some women after reading a collection of testimonies from their fellow friends who were once subjected to torture and sexual violence, they find encouragement through such articles featuring women.
By engaging in interactive online community, women become unlimited in strength and can connect with members of the community and come up with a powerful network to bring together people with similar visions to brainstorm solutions, pose questions, share ideas, successes and take action.
I really enjoy using web 2.0 because it connects me easily to the people all over the world and i get blessed , encouraged and empowered with it.
I believe web 2.0 can bring change in women all over the world in terms of development, economically, socially and protect women's rights through stories that can be shared on the web unveiling the evils against women and how they can be stopped...
Sibongile.
Comments
Powerful Voice
Inspiring essay! Your voice is clear, powerful, and positive!
Thanks sally, am happy that
Thanks sally, am happy that you read my essay. Is there anything you would like to add, share with me on the essay, what you feel , how it was composed, just anything coz i need your comments really. But i do appreaciate that you read it.
Thanks for encouraging me.
sibongile.
Good luck
It is always really wonderful to hear the stories of the good things brought about by the internet...stories of hope and community development always seem particularly powerful to me. I hope you continue to use the internet as a positive tool for community driven change!
Pheobe
Reply
Hey Pheeb
Thank you so much even though i did not reply to you in time. But i khno that am on the right track, the right web which will provide necessary tools to go about with my vision and my work which will eventualy help alot of women out there.
Yes, i will continue using the net as my tool to bring chnage in my community.
thank you so much.
Keep in touch always.
sibo
ease
Sibongile,
I like your line, "life is much easier using web 2.0," because I think this is so true. It's easier to find people and opportunities, to communicate, and to band together to work on a single issue, such as abuse of women in Malawi.
You know your tools - you seem to be a natural teacher - and are using them wisely. Keep it going...
Frances
REPLY
Thank you Francis, web.20 makes the world the go round i guess. You know , the more i write on the blog, the more the voice is spread to many women, people at once and change lives too. Thank you for taking your time to read my work. Please share me your stories from your country on how web.20 is changing lives especially for women.
Sibongile.
"Speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far".
Goodday.