The Mekong 2010 ICT (Information Communication Technology) Camp continued riding on its opening success in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as the topics of Internet data security and technology communication in the region were analyzed and dissected.

Participants of the 2010 Mekong ICT Camp.

Also on the table were public-private partnerships, universal access designs, photo documentaries for social movements and more.

The convention was made possible thanks to the Thai Fund Foundation along with other sponsors. The Thai Fund Foundation works on a premise of providing a platform for small NGO's to get together, get connected, and get assistance in learning how to operate more effectively as well as improving their ability to access funds. They aim to reinforce the capacity of NGO's and extend their potential reach.

Providing infrastructure, training, and potential is based on what the foundation calls the "4 P's":

1. Philosophy (People are willing to change and adapt)
2. Principle (Linking donors with NGO's)
3. Processing (Getting people involved hands on)
4. Partnership (Linking those with common goals)

Mekong ICT 2010 is a prime example of people collaborating and bringing together their expertise in an open forum with common goals to improve the ICT network in the Mekong region and beyond. A worldwide panel of experts and participants have met to exchange ideas and express views on the ICT situation in various countries.

Speaking on the conference, Thai Fund Foundation Chairperson Pissimai Khanobdee shared, "The Mekong (ICT) is a forum for the next generation to come together, to share experience and develop common goals. I can't stress enough how vital networking is. ASEAN needs to help each other, they need to come together because we all have a common purpose."

Facilitator Dmitri Vitaliev shared, "This is a platform for ICT and activism in the region to share experience and knowledge, exchange ideas and address topics that are essential, but difficult to address."

This is the second annual Mekong ICT Camp and they have built on their past success and plan to use it as a building block to improve every year. The teamwork is growing and Khanobdee stressed that, "The young people are bringing enormous energy and passion to the event, there is more enthusiasm than there has ever been."

Japanese participant Satoko Ohira said, "I came here to meet others and I have been very successful as well as gained new knowledge and feel better connected to others in ICT. This is not only an opportunity to be better at what we do, but to better the region."

The discussion is not only limited to common forms of ICT such as traditional media and social networking, but also addresses the existence and increase in alternative means of communication ranging from SMS to blogging, pirate radio to third party servers and more.

Ahmed Abid, working with SEARCH (Southeast Asian regional cooperation in human development), which supports developing rule of law in seven Mekong countries shared, "The ICT camp is an opportunity to develop communication, skills, and for people to engage in conversation, to come together, to meet others who are participating. After coming and joining, I found this is extremely helpful for me, for participants, for human rights, for the region, and for journalism. It's a plate of rice, it is nourishing. You learn to create your own personal security, and it's a way to express and share how. This training is personal and professional and has brought a lot of people who have ideas, resources and skills together, but more importantly this is a forum to connect those things and share the knowledge to improve. Now, I will give a seminar to my coworkers based on what I've learned here. It has been eye-opening."

The Mekong 2010 ICT Camp will end June 11.