Rami Mehdawi founded the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Forum (PNGOF) in 2007 to connect a fractured Palestinian society through a virtual social-networking platform. Home to over eight thousand members and growing, PNGOF creates an open space for discussion, collaboration, and information-sharing, bridging the physical and geographic divides that separate Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and the Diaspora.
PNGOF opens a virtual discussion floor to the most important issues that Palestinian society is facing and invites members to contribute their original thoughts regardless of their religious and political affiliations. As such, PNGOF taps into the pulse of the Palestinian political and social dialogue and serves as an incubator for collaborative solutions to aid in the creation of a future Palestinian state.
PNGOF members represent all sectors of Palestinian society and questions are often posed to prominent members in the private sector or the Palestinian Authority, sparking discussion and debate around complex problems between all members of Palestinian society. This virtual platform for free speech connects members together across sectors, bridging divides, in an attempt to build a cohesive and united community that translates interactive dialogue into measurable social change on the ground. The Forum also serves as a media platform to circulate important newsworthy items from around the world and features select op-ed articles from members.
Postings for job and scholarship opportunities are featured on the Forum to connect Palestinians to these important information sources, and community events are announced to mobilize social activists together. In addition, Rami has engaged members of the local media to publish investigative articles exposing local corruption, using PNGOF as an honest platform for journalism and freedom of speech.
Rami is a social activist in Palestine who devoted his academic career to the study of democracy. He frequently publishes opinion pieces on political and social issues. He envisioned the creation of PNGOF as a completely free and open venue for Palestinians to voice their opinions and points of view without fear of retribution. In addition, Rami believes that the circulation and dissemination of various ideas and points of view is the only way to achieve true social change. Since its launch two years ago, PNGOF has become a well-recognized and respected forum among civil-society actors, politicians, decision-makers, and leaders both inside and outside Palestine.
Going forward, Rami is expanding the Forum from a virtual to a physical dialogue: he has convened town-hall-style meetings with PNGOF members and the local community to discuss issues concerning the community, such as Corporate Social Responsibility and the Palestinian Authority’s media involvement.
In December 2009, Rami convened a meeting with Dr Rafiq al-Husseini, Chief of Staff to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to evaluate Jerusalem’s place as the Arab Capital of Culture in 2009.
Translating dialogue into social and political change will take time but it is institutions such as PNGOF that are creating the space and freedom for these ideas and partnerships for change to take root. Recently, Rami’s work was profiled by local television channel, Wattan TV, in the special on Creative Individuals, where an entire episode was dedicated to his initiative.
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Read an article written by Rami for the Common Ground News Service entitled “Let us first debate amongst ourselves”?.
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Read an article in Al Quds (in Arabic) about PNGOF members meeting with President of the Office of the Presidency Dr Rafiq Al Husseini to review Jerusalem’s performance as Arab Cultural Capital of 2009.
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Read (in Arabic) about how PNGOF conducts an electronic referendum.
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Watch video about some of the challenges faced by bloggers in Egypt.
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Read an article in Al Quds (in Arabic) about PNGOF members meeting with President of the Office of the Presidency Dr Rafiq Al Husseini to review Jerusalem’s performance as Arab Cultural Capital of 2009.
To Contact Rami:
mehdawi78@yahoo.com
Tel: 00972599787870