Mohamad Najem

I'm a cofounder, along with my wife, of Social Media Exchange, in Beirut, which trains NGOs and civil society groups in the strategic use of the Internet for social change in English and Arabic.

I first became aware of the power of the Internet during the war of 2006, when blogs became a primary way to get news about the war, and by working as a fixer and translator for online and citizen journalists coming to cover the aftermath. I have been captivated ever since.

Over the past two years, as Internet access has improved in Lebanon (still a long way to go!), we've focused on promoting the power of social media for social change among diverse communities in Lebanon, through training and participation in local initiatives like Sharek 961.