Cindy Melemo from Botswana presented on including marginalized communities in product development. Marginalized communities include women, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA individuals, those in poverty, and racial/cultural minorities. An ideal inclusive community allows all groups to participate without prejudice. To include marginalized communities, representatives should be involved in research, products should be tested with these groups, and their voices heard in upgrades. Partnerships between private/non-profit sectors can help bridge gaps. Inclusion and acceptance of feedback are important.

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N O C O D E F O R M A R G N A L I Z E D
C O M M U N I T I E S
T l a m e l o C i n d y M e l e m o

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No code for Marginalized
Communities
P r e s e n t e d b y T l a m e l o C i n d y
M e l e m o f r o m B o t s w a n a ( A f r i c a )
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

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• Tlamelo Cindy Melemo- You can call me Cindy
• I am from a country in Africa called Botswana in the Southern region
of Africa next to South Africa.
• I currently work for UNICEF as a Technology for Development officer
in the Rwanda Country office.
• I am a founder of an Non profit called WoTech Botswana (women in
technology)
• I also run 2 startups
• I am a social activist and a techy at heart.
Introduction

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Who are Marginalized
communities?

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Introduction of Marginalized
communities
• According to the Kenya Talk website “A marginalized
community is a group that's confined to the lower or
peripheral edge of the society. Such a group is denied
involvement in mainstream economic, political, cultural
and social activities.”
• Examples of marginalized communities are
1. Women
2. People living with disabilities
3. LGBTQI community
4. People living in poverty
5. Racial/Cultural minorities
6. Refugees
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• From Youtube uploaded by Rose Asahara
Marginalized communities

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An Ideal community inclusive of
the marginalized communities
• What would your ideal team be that is inclusive?
• How many women are there in your company? How many of these
women hold leadership positions?
• How many people do you have in your team that are part of the LGBTQI
community?
• How many disabled people do you have in your company?

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• An ideal inclusive community is one that does not suppress nor inhibit a
certain group of people from participating politically, socially and
economically without any prejudice or stereotype associated.
• An ideal inclusive community is one where ones status, gender,
background, ability, race, age, weight or appearance does not influence
their role in society.
An Ideal community inclusive of
the marginalized communities

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How to be inclusive of
Marginalized communities

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• When doing your research for your product insure you have a
representatives from different marginalized communities.
• Visit NGO’s, shelters and other facilities during each product
development stage.
• Test your solutions with marginalized communities
• Once your product has been deployed and is in use, ensure for each
upgrade you include the voice of the marginalized.
Including marginalized communities
during product development
process

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• DURING MARKET RESEARCHES, SEEK OUT
MARGINALIZED VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES
• Often market researches focus on markets that are most likely
to be profitable and sideline communities that are marginalized.
BEING PROACTIVE ABOUT INCLUSION IN DAILY LIFE
ACTIVITIES
Inclusion begins in our daily lives. If we learn to be inclusive to
marginalized communities it eventually speaks to larger
communities.

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• PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE PRIVATE SECTORS
AND CIVIL SOCIETIES
Often market researches focus on markets that are most likely to be
profitable and sideline communities that are marginalized. The civil
society plays a vital role in bridging the gap between the community
and the private sector and if the relationship between the private
sector and civil societies is used effectively, better results can be
achieved.
BE WILLING TO ACCEPT CORRECTION
We need to listen to correction and be willing to accept it in regards
to being inclusive of marginalized communities.

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• DONATIONS TO BRIDGE THE PARITY BETWEEN THE
COMMUNITIES
We need to make donations to the involvement and participation of
marginalized communities. Sponsor a hub, maintain an NGO, give
away free laptops and deploy your products in a rural village.
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS AND
PRIVATE SECTORS
We need to encourage partnerships between the private sector and
governments to help bridge the parity between communities in
regards to marginalized communities

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CONCLUSION
• Why is it important to include marginalized communities
1. To fulfill corporate social responsibilities
2. For more profit
3. To boost your brand visibility
• 2 steps you can take to be inclusive of marginalized communities
1. Partner and support an NGO
2. Practice inclusion in your day to day activities

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INCLUDE THE
MAGINALIZED
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T H A N K YO U
Research links
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1559/152304098782594580
https://www.unicefirc.org /publications/pdf/IRB_2017_06_Adol04.pdf