ASEAN youth to plant seeds of change through social media

Photo credit: ASEAN Fondation

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 19 September 2019 – Twenty aspiring ASEAN youths gathered in a 4-day training on social journalism at the Perpustakaan Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Library in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam on 16-19 September.

This training was part of the ASEAN Youth Social Journalism Contest and joined by finalists from ASEAN Member States who were selected from the submission of over 300 articles.

Organised by the ASEAN-USAID Partnership for Regional Optimization with the Political Security and Socio-Cultural Communities (PROSPECT) and ASEAN Foundation, in collaboration with the Scoop and ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Youth Social Journalism Contest encouraged ASEAN youth to promote responsive and transparent government in ASEAN through social media campaigns.

The training enabled the participants to develop skills and garner knowledge on content production through various activities such as lectures, group projects, filming practice and mentoring sessions. Participants also visited the office of Brunei Darussalam’s media institutions such as Progresif and Information Department (Jabatan Penerangan) and Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and Kampung Ayer.

After the workshop, the finalists were given one month to start their social media awareness raising campaign on issues related to government responsiveness and transparency. The top three winners of the contest will be chosen based on the reach and impact of their campaign in their respective home countries.

 “We do not want to create instant change. What we are aiming for is to plant seeds of change. Hopefully, these campaigns will inspire people and continue beyond the one-month period of the competition,” said Horea Salajan who has been involved since 2017 through the ASEAN Youth Citizen Journalism Contest as trainer and content producer.