Digital Democracy

Digital Democracy
Working with local partners to connect people
through new technologies that encourage
education, communication and participation.

Where We Work:
Burma/Myanmar
One of the most repressive
regimes of the 21st Century
Human rights abuses:
Forced labor
Forced relocation
Rape as a tool of war
Around Burma
In Exile: more than 3 million
Sophisticated network of
community based
organizations KHRG

Overcoming Obstacles,
Creating Opportunities Our Research
Youth Perspectives from the Thai-Burma Border
www.newwordsmedia.com
Youth Perspectives from the Thai-Burma Border

www.newwordsmedia.com
Key finding
Young Burmese with access to the internet were
more likely to identify themselves as activists

Problem Solution
Regional instability Cross-border communication
World’s longest running civil Networking among
war traditionally divided groups
Rampant use of child soldiers Providing 21st century
education
Over 3.5 million internally
displaced persons and Connecting refugees with
refugees their resettled communities
Severe censorship Freedom of information

Solutions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/2736565604/
1. Education 2. Inter-ethnic dialogue
3. Communication technology

Solutions
“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
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/2736565604/
1. Education 2. Inter-ethnic dialogue
3. Communication technology

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

Solutions
Democracy Digital Democracy
• Being heard • Empowerment of the
• Minority rights individual
• Accountability and • Fall of hierarchies
transparency • Wider participation
• Advocacy for change • Democratization of
• Access information
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/2736565604/

Handheld
Human Rights
What? Making human
rights data accessible &
actionable
How? Mapping text
messages for human rights Where? Piloting with human
workers to coordinate a rights organizations operating
response in and around Burma

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

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

Project Einstein: Digital Pen Pals
Peace
Culture
Let’s Discuss: Happiness
History
USA Ideas Bangladesh
Pictures
Let’s Exchange: Lessons
Culture
Resettled Refugees Photo Books
with American youth Youth in
in US schools Let’s Create: Slideshows refugee camps
Videos
D
2

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

daylaborers.org
“Do you really want this in your neighborhood?”
Day Laborers site in Farmingville, Long Island, NY
Photograph courtesy of Dave Drew

Day Laborers

Popular
Education

Free Software
& Creative Commons Content

Multiple Channels

Community Correspondents:
MADELOU
http://vozmob.net/en/node/
1188

Community Correspondents:
MANUEL
http://vozmob.net/en/node/
3812

Community Correspondents:
ADOLFO
http://vozmob.net/en/node/
3162

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
The development Lesson plans and activities will
of curriculum with explore themes such as:
a focus on
teaching people What is your community like?
digital storytelling
What is your school like?
skills with mobile
phones... What do you do for fun?

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! Amanda Garces!
Co-Director! VozMob Project
mbelinsky@digital-democracy.org! Coordinator!
amanda@idepsca.org!
Emily Jacobi!
Co-Director!
ejacobi@digital-democracy.org!