Last night, thousands of leaders arrived in Kuala Lumpur for the 2013 Women Deliver conference, a gathering of advocates and experts to discuss the health and well-being of girls and women.
While not everyone could make it to Malaysia for the conference, they could add their voice to the conversation through “WomenDeliver+SocialGood,” an in-person and online event that brought together media experts, social entrepreneurs, and policy leaders to discuss how digital media and technology can address challenges facing women and girls around the world.
Women Deliver +SocialGood was hosted by the partners of the Social Good Summit – the UN Foundation, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Mashable, 92nd Street Y, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – along with the Case Foundation.
During the 90-minute program, livestreamed to a global audience, thought leaders from civil society, the UN, the private sector, government, and youth-led organizations discussed how advances in technology and social media – which allow us all to communicate instantly and connect like never before – can be used as an incredible tool for social good.
The event highlighted how technology can help empower women and address urgent health challenges. Laura Stachel, for example, spoke about how a “Solar Suitcase” can provide reliable and renewable sources of electricity needed to help women to give birth safely. Humphrey Nabimanya, a 24-year old TV host, communicates through social media to educate his peers in Uganda about HIV/AIDS. In a keynote conversation, UN Foundation President and CEO Kathy Calvin and Women Deliver President Jill Sheffield discussed the need to invest in women and girls and how technology can drive change.
Last night’s conversations are just the beginning of a longer discussion. At the event, the Social Good Summit partners, with support from the Case Foundation, launched an innovative online community called +SocialGood, which will connect people around the world in discussions and actions that leverage technology as a force for social good – for women and girls, and for everyone.
Follow us at www.plussocialgood.org and on Twitter: @plus_socialgood, and read more at Mashable.