Aswat’s Mission

Aswat (“voices” in Arabic) strives to be an uncensored online space for activists and reformers from throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Iran to make governments more responsive to citizens, transparent in operation and effective in delivering results that matter in people’s everyday lives. Aswat is a multilingual web portal available in Arabic, English, French and Farsi, where members access quality resources, engage in dialogue, and connect through awareness raising.

Aswat’s Pillars

--- Aswat Provides Resources:

Aswat aims to equip members with organizing and advocacy tools and techniques through an online library of quality resources in Arabic, English, French and Farsi. This library houses professional manuals and guides that assist reformers and activists in their advocacy and organizing efforts. In addition to this traditional form of resource-sharing, Aswat offers its members viewable and downloadable videos of skills-building seminars.

--- Aswat Promotes Dialogue:

Seldom do reformers and activists in the MENA region and Iran have an uncensored space to voice their opinions and share their experiences, but with Aswat this space is guaranteed. Aswat members are encouraged to share with a broad audience of like-minded individuals their needs and grievances to obtain advice, insight or guidance from other members who have been or are going through the same experiences. Through Aswat’s News Blog, individual blogs, Groups, and other mechanisms for dialogue, activists and reformers can discuss issues, share ideas and experiences, and disseminate information.

--- Aswat Raises Awareness:

Aswat aims to create networks of activists and make them aware of activities and opportunities in this space through the use of news and information blogs, organized discussions through affinity groups and a calendar of events.