Digital Democracy Empowering Civic Engagement Through Digital Technologies
Access to mobile phones and the Internet is dramatically increasing around world. How can these tools be harnessed for positive social change? Digital Democracy is a non-profit organization using digital technologies to empower civic engagement. We work with local partners to develop tools that help community organizations promote human rights and build local capacity. Emphasizing the need for new media literacy, we prepare youth and communities with the tools they need to be informed and engaged citizens in the 21st century. Ddʼs programming promotes communication, education and participation.
Co-Founders Mark Belinsky & Emily Jacobi presenting at US Congress
Communication Handheld Human Rights uses mobile phones to make human rights data accessible and actionable. Using open source tools, HHR allows networks to communicate securely via mobile phones. Human rights groups use the platform to share informational both internally and with the outside world for advocacy. • Currently deployed in Thailand, expanding to India, Bangladesh & inside Burma 2010 • Potential deployments in the DRC and Colombia. Election monitoring: Dd is partnering with grassroots organizations on election monitoring initiatives in SE Asia and Eastern Europe.
Education New media literacy is critical to education in the 21st century. Dd partners with a variety of groups on programming, trainings and curriculum that educates people – particularly youth and students – on new media skills. Project Einstein is our signature educational platform. A photography-based digital penpal program, Project Einstein connects classrooms youth in refugee camps with resettled refugees and their classmates in the US. Dd is currently developing the platform and curriculum. • Launching with schools in Thailand & Indianapolis, IN Fall 2009-Spring 2010. • Packaging curriculum and platform to make available to other communities in Fall 2010.
Participation Conferences & Barcamps: Dd actively participates in the planning and execution of conferences that bring together diverse voices. BarCamps, or conferences where everyone is a presenter, are open events that bring together technology and the social sector. Our current focus is working in Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia & the United States. Digital Democracy TV: How is technology changing the world? DdTv is a biweekly interactive TV series highlighting surprising and inspiring work happening globally on technology & citizen empowerment.