To make the world go round, you need both givers and takers, with each
depending on the other’s existence in order to have any kind of impact.
Ranwa Yehia would definitely qualify as a giver. As far as simple ideas
go, a summer camp is nothing new; an effective activity that not only
keeps the kids busy during the long holiday months, but also an
alternative method of education that has far-reaching effects. Ranwa is
the project director and concept developer of the Arab Digital
Expression Camps (ADEC), which are two-week residential, fun-based
camps for Arab children held in Egypt. “The goal of the camps is to
empower Arab youth from around the world - both from underprivileged
backgrounds as well as those who can afford it,” she says. The camps
encourage youths to develop the skills to translate their own ideas,
fears and dreams reflective of their culture and identity through the
use of advanced digital technologies. From making videos, to designing
web sites to blogging, kids are allowed freedom of expression with
their projects.

It may sound like a simple idea, but it is also an essential one, and
something Ranwa believes can have a life-altering effect on Arab youths
today, especially those who have little or no access to technology in
their home countries. “There is proof from individuals from all over
the world who speak volumes of the impact of similar experiences on
their lives, careers and personal development,” she says. “On many
levels, adults tend to forget or underestimate the capacity children
have and continue to be overwhelmed with the amazing results children
produce by merely being exposed to simple, but well-thought of
methodologies,” Ranwa adds. Ranwa began working on the camp concept in
November 2005 and two years later, during the summer of 2007, the first
camps were held. “Arab youth are the major driving force of progress
and socio-economic development in the Arab region and ‘digital’ will be
the way they express themselves in arts, politics, sciences and
humanities,” she says. “The idea is to make ADEC a place where young
Arabs can be integrated within the global village with two vital skills
- critical thinking and digital know-how,” Ranwa adds.

Hoping to tap into the creativity of young kids, ADEC brings together
teenagers, teachers, experts and artists from across the Arab world,
who together will learn, share experiences and acquire access to
digital knowledge, which will hopefully inspire creativity from the
kids. Campers have the option to focus on one of four fields, guided by
professionals from different areas of expertise, who will offer
custom-designed advice, training and practical skills. The fields to
choose from include graphic design, digital music and sound, digital
video and animation and web design. In addition, traditional
extracurricular camp activities like theatre and sports, as well as
plastic arts and a printing press club are also on the schedule to
expose campers to even more different areas. “We have called on the
expertise of a network of Arab experts, who are already established in
their field and have produced works in self-expression, to provide
training and advice for ADEC kids,” she adds. One of ADEC’s goals is to
encourage Arab contribution to the global web content, therefore
transforming Arabs from being mere receivers of information to actual
participants. In fact, ADEC’s roots go back in history to the summer of
1984, when a similar project aimed to do the same - the Arab Computer
Camps - which was a major non-profit initiative that lasted a decade,
with the goal of exposing Arab youth to new technology, removing
inhibitions toward it and learning basic programming skills. With over
10,000 participants over the ten years, they provided the inspiration
for Ranwa to revive and update the initiative under the name ADEC and
take it a step further, by maintaining an ongoing dialogue online.

To keep up the momentum built over the two weeks, the campers will take
home a little bit of their experience from the camp so that they can
share it with others. Each camper is given a CD and DVD that includes
everything they’ve learned, as well as their final project - be it a
short film, design or piece of music. And for the sake of ‘staying
connected’, they’re also given several open-source software programmes,
so they can stay in touch and share information with their mentors and
friends, long after the camp is over. It all sounds rosy, but now in
it’s second year, ADEC is also facing some challenges - campers’
enthusiasm not being one of them. Securing funding to sponsor
disadvantaged campers, who cannot afford to attend has been a constant
source of concern for the organisers of the camp. Whether it’s from
private sources or part of a company’s corporate social responsibility
programmes, ADEC are always looking to bring more people on board and
appreciate any help they can get.The first camp held last year brought
together 64 children from across the Arab world and was, by all
reviews, a resounding success. That is, if you consider the fact that
someone like Mohammed el-Soussi, a 12-year-old camper from Gaza was
able to develop a comprehensive technical project proposal for a
community portal in Palestine, which was uploaded onto their online
portal - a success. And that’s just one example. To view other projects
completed by kids visit www.arabdigitalexpression.net.

http://www.7days.ae/en/2008/07/10/express-yourself.html