via Facebook
21-year-old Moayad (don’t worry, I can’t pronounce it either) is perhaps best known for his role as webmaster and social media guru for Egypt-based youth portal What’s up Youth (WupY). WupY aims to connect youth in the Middle East to events and organisations that can help further their personal development, and has a network of over 50,000 individuals across the region.
‘WupY is a platform that offers opportunities and and chances to young people not just in Egypt but across the whole Middle East.’
In 2010, they won a World Summit Youth Award as one of the best e-content platforms working to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
‘We aim to bridge the gap between organisations and offline opportunities and a vibrant online community of hyper-connected individuals.’
As well as running activities WupY also has its own online streaming channel, WupY TV, where they live-stream discussions, conferences, forums and other events from different youth, national and international organisations. Recently, they have been involved in a campaign to raise awareness of the UN’s International Day of Peace.
via WupY
But WupY isn’t the only enterprising project Moayad has been involved in. Despite his young years, he has been prolific on the civil society scene in Egypt for several years:
‘I started to get involved in the civil work community back in April 2009 as one of the founders of Alexandria’s CashFlow Club. Since then I have worked with various social enterprises and youth communities in Egypt, including SIFE (Student In Free Enterprise) at Alexandria University, YAPD (Youth Association for Population and Development) Alexandria, AIESEC Alexandria, as well as participated in five simulation models for the EU, UN, OIC, Nile Basin Initiative and EuroMed Summit.
I was also part of the organising team of the first TED conference to take place in Alexandria in 2010.’
via WupY
With all of that going on, it’s hardly surprising that Moayad is Nokia Connects’ Social Innovator of the Week!
Do you know (or alternatively, are you) a young social innovator you think we should be highlighting? Let us know in 140 characters or less!