Birzeit University Graduate Wins King Abdallah Award for Youth Innovation

Birzeit University Media Department Graduate Saed Karazon, a social media trainer, won  $50, 000  in The King Abdallah II Award for Youth Innovation and Achievement (KAAYIA) for designing an interdisciplinary, interactive panel to make a youth-led social change.Karzoun’s presented his ideas in a mobile application "You Know", that focuses on the right of the citizen, particularly the Palestinian journalist, to access information and knowledge. He also presented a number of ideas and interactive platforms to raise the awareness on the importance of having an democratic process, free speech and the need for accountability  in the public sphere. “ Palestinian Youth and Arabs must assume their roles as active citizens,” Karzoun said. “In my project I  offered innovative tools and methods to enhancing the culture of transparency, accountability and the right to access information, through promoting freedom of expression online, and therefore, a culture of change-making and accountability among youth.”The King Abdullah II Award for Youth Innovation and Achievement aims to celebrate and support the youth throughout the Arab region who have pioneered innovative solutions to urgent social, economic and environmental challenges.