Award giving ceremony of Digital Courage Award 2019 by FNF
Honoring people fighting for freedom in the digital age, Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) granted Digital Courage Award 2019 with a Gala dinner reception on November 27 at Park Royal Hotel, Yangon.
This award was given by Friedrich Naumann Foundation Myanmar in honor of those who have worked for human rights and freedom in the digital age. The Digital Courage Award will be awarded to the most courageous freedom fighters in Myanmar every year. This year award was given to U Ye Myat Thu (Member of MCDC) because FNF believes that he could show extraordinary courage in the digital society to promote the freedom and quality of the digital space.
Photo Source by Myanmar Tech Press
This award was start given in 2018 for those who can develop the technology for Myanmar and the innovations who has yet to work. In doing so, whoever presented to FNF, whether he is a tech-savvy individual or an organization entrepreneur will be chosen by FNF.
“Few things have changed our daily lives as radical as digitalization. As liberals, we see technological advancements always as a chance to increase freedom – without being blind for potential threads for democracy and human rights. With the Digital Courage award we honor outstanding women and men to use modern technology as a tool to promote freedom in the real world and digital world” said Mr. Frederic Spohr, Head of Myanmar and Thailand of Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
Photo Source by Myanmar Tech Press
U Ye Myat Thu is the one working for the benefit of the people in the digital community. The winner was selected out of 10 finalists based on 3 criteria namely working for digital, courageous and fighting for freedom, a role model for others.
In the past, many unsung heroes were fighting for the rights and freedom of the people in Myanmar. Unknown to the public, they have not received the deserved acknowledgment of and their tales submerged in the tide of history. Mobile technologies have recently increased information access and enabled freedom fighters to reach other people more efficiently.
FNF acknowledges the importance of these change agents and the usage of mobile technologies for the transition towards an open society. Therefore, FNF wants to reward their effort and motivate others in their fight for freedom and rights.
