Jameel Bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan
Bahrain event to highlight role of tech in humanitarian work
MANAMA, October 23, 2018
By Abdulaziz Khattak
Hundreds of philanthropists, welfare activists, technology experts and government officials will converge in Bahrain for the third annual ‘Charity Technology Innovation Conference and Exhibition’ next week.
Themed ‘Adopting Technology in Humanitarian Work’, the event is being held under the patronage of Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, on October 28 and 29 at the conference hall at the Gulf Hotel.
The event will allow officials of welfare and humanitarian organisations, IT companies and academics from around the world to discuss the latest technologies that can better serve the field of philanthropy.
Speaking to Trade Arabia, organising committee chairman Ahmed Bu Hazza said: “The conference will witness eight sessions, where 40 speakers will discuss modern technologies that enable financial sustainability, promote charitable and endowment sectors, streamline information and communication, and aid people with disabilities.”
He added the event facilitates dialogue between technology companies and humanitarian organisations and activists.
Over 20 exhibiting international technology companies from across the Arab world and beyond will showcase the latest technologies that can contribute to enhancing the infrastructure and technological development in the field of humanitarian work.
Some of the many topics that will be discussed include ‘Digital Social Innovation’, ‘Crowdfunding’, ‘Role of Fintech in promoting charitable work’, ‘Use of technology to challenge disability’, ‘Channels to promote charitable culture’, ‘Artificial Intelligence’, ‘Leveraging Media to further social work’, etc.
The speakers include Mohamed Omar Solan, faculty member at King Saud University; Abdulrahman Al Turkit, human rights activist and photographer; Yousuf Sultan, CEO at Ethis Ventures, Dr Jassim Haji, a leading IT expert, and others.
In addition, there will be workshops and panel discussions regarding endowments, role of media and people with disabilities.
Bu Hazza said the conference will discuss the future of endowment finance through the use of blockchain technology. Light will also be shed on the use of 3D in marketing humanitarian work and the internet of things.
Also in the technology and innovation session, speakers will attempt to contribute to the methods of promoting initiatives aimed at enabling the disabled to benefit from modern technological advancements so that their lives can be made easier, enjoyable and more efficient.
“This will streamline their integration into society and allow them to develop themselves so they can actively contribute to public life and developmental works,” concluded Bu Hazza.
