Digital Democracy & VozMob Presentation

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This presentation explains the work being done by Digital Democracy and VozMob and our ideas for collaboration between our two organizations, for N2Y4 Featured Projects Pitch Series

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Digital Democracy

Digital DemocracyWorking with local partners to connect people

through new technologies that encourage

education, communication and participation.

One of the most repressive regimes of the 21st Century

Human rights abuses:Forced laborForced relocationRape as a tool of war

Where We Work:

KHRG

Burma/Myanmar

In Exile: more than 3 million

Sophisticated network of community based organizations

Around Burma

Our Research

Youth Perspectives from the Thai-Burma Border

Youth Perspectives from the Thai-Burma Border

Overcoming Obstacles,

Creating Opportunities

www.newwordsmedia.com

Key finding

www.newwordsmedia.com

Young Burmese with access to the internet were more likely to identify themselves as activists

Problem Solution

Regional instability

World’s longest running civil war

Rampant use of child soldiers

Over 3.5 million internally displaced persons and refugees

Severe censorship

Cross-border communication

Networking among traditionally divided groups

Providing 21st century education

Connecting refugees with their resettled communities

Freedom of information

Solutions

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/2736565604/

1. Education 2. Inter-ethnic dialogue 3. Communication technology

Solutions

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/2736565604/

1. Education 2. Inter-ethnic dialogue 3. Communication technology

“I came to study here, I can use computer, I can use email, and I also learn something from internet, I also know more experience.” – Male Student, age 23

Solutions

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/2736565604/

Solutions

http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/2736565604/

Democracy• Being heard• Minority rights• Accountability and

transparency• Advocacy for change• Access

Digital Democracy• Empowerment of the

individual• Fall of hierarchies• Wider participation• Democratization of

information

Handheld Human Rights

What? Making human rights data accessible & actionable

How? Mapping text messages for human rights workers to coordinate a response

Where? Piloting with human rights organizations operating in and around Burma

Project Einstein

Digital Pen Pal program

Photography-based participatory education linking American students with refugee youth overseas

Facilitate cross-cultural dialogue in the US, maintain a connection between resettled refugees and their home communities, and provide an open channel of communication between closed communities and the outside world

Recent work: Refugee Camp in Bangladesh, Shelter in South Africa 

“Because Einstein was a refugee but could still do great things”

Project Einstein

Digital Pen Pal program

Photography-based participatory education linking American students with refugee youth overseas

Facilitate cross-cultural dialogue in the US, maintain a connection between resettled refugees and their home communities, and provide an open channel of communication between closed communities and the outside world

Recent work: Refugee Camp in Bangladesh, Shelter in South Africa 

“Because Einstein was a refugee but could still do great things”

Project Einstein: Digital Pen PalsPeace

Culture

Happiness

History

Let’s Discuss:

USA Ideas

Pictures

Lessons

Culture

Let’s Exchange:

Photo Books

Slideshows

VideosLet’s Create:

Resettled Refugees with American youth in US schools

Youth in refugee camps

D 2

Bangladesh

Building the Project Einstein Platform:

Sample Features:Photo Galleries

Blogging

Discussion Forums

Rating System

Our Partners

Burma Information Technology

Our Supporters

VozMob

Projecting the voices of immigrant workers by appropriating mobile phones for popular communication

Partnership

Challenging hate speech

“Do you really want this in your neighborhood?”Day Laborers site in Farmingville, Long Island, NY

Photograph courtesy of Dave Drew

daylaborers.org

Day Laborers

Popular

Education

Free Software

& Creative Commons Content

Multiple Channels

Supporters

Integration

Development of new mobile functionality for Drupal and integration to VozMob and Project Einstein platforms:

Short video

Audio & photo slideshows via MMS

Combining our target communities - connecting youth from around the world

Digital Storytelling

What is your community like?

What is your school like?

What do you do for fun?

Lesson plans and activities will explore themes such as:

The development of curriculum with

a focus on teaching people digital storytelling skills with mobile

phones...

Collaboration Outputs

Hands-on training

Curriculum development

Open source software

Contributions back into VozMob, Open Atrium & Drupal development communities

Funding Distribution

Central project fund

Division of responsibilities to appropriate organization

Disbursement of funds as needed

Contact:!

Digital Democracy! VozMob!

Mark Belinsky!

Co-Director!

mbelinsky@digital-democracy.org!

Emily Jacobi!

Co-Director!

ejacobi@digital-democracy.org!

Amanda Garces!

VozMob Project

Coordinator!

amanda@idepsca.org!