Receive posts by Email
Entries (RSS)
On-line volunteering with NABUUR
Written by Tamara on August 29, 2008 – 8:25 am -
Description: Perhaps modern volunteers are the equivalent of the missionaries of the days gone by. They are not any less controversial. Advocates claim that it is the duty of all citizens of the world to take responsibility for one another. Critics claim that these volunteers are misguided in their patronizing and uninformed approach to different cultures.
Anyone who has spent any time as a volunteer will attest to the fact that the reality is complicated, and the answers are not clear.
However, it is a fact that there is a growing demand for the skills of volunteers. A vast number of organisations and people wish to have access to volunteers, but do not have the resources to be able to achieve this.
Tools: forums
How these tools are being used: NABUUR is a web based platform that allows volunteers to meet with those in need of their skills. NABUUR is made up of “Villages” (describing any grouping of people and activities) and “Neighbours”. Neighbours join together in forums where they can jointly discuss projects or issues. Villages can set up projects and request help with particular tasks.
The site is distinct in the on-line volunteerism arena due to its ease of access (anyone may join through a simply registration process) and the ease of communication (anyone may post a thread or answer ongoing threads). As a result, the neighbourhood is buzzing with activity.
(Picture source: NABUUR)
Tags: forums, volunteer
Posted in Action Alerts, Organizations | 1 Comment »
Listen to the voice of the people
Written by Tamara on July 24, 2008 – 8:12 am -
Description: The major factor that will shape the future evolution of the developing world is in the education and sensitisation of the people. A commonly cited example is the AIDs epidemic. Over 20 years after its outbreak, ignorance and stigma still surround the epidemic to the point where AIDs victims are unable to openly talk about their struggles for fear of discrimination or violence. AIDs workers still encounter examples of HIV patients who are ignorant of how they contracted the disease.
Many innovative campaigns are being utilised in the education of the population. Where computing and the internet are relatively expensive and only accessible to an elite, radio and t.v. are household norms, even in some of the most isolated regions. Radio programs are increasingly being used as an effective means of sensitizing large portions of the population.
How these tools are being used: Successful past media campaigns include UNICEFs Digital Diaries where youths who would not normally have access to the media were given the opportunity to record and broadcast their experiences. In partnership with Radio Diaries the story of a South African teenager living with AIDs (Thembi’s AIDS Diary) was broadcast across the US resulting in a campaign of seminars, forums and blogs. Extracts of the broadcasts can be downloaded from the website.
IRIN the humanitarian and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs continues the campaign of digital activism. Services include IRIN Radio (“IRIN Radio produces high-quality programming in local languages on humanitarian issues, ready for broadcast by local stations. The service also provides hands-on training to journalists, developing their production and reporting skills, allowing local radio to serve communities more effectively”), PlusNews (specialised on HIV/AIDs), IRIN Film & TV and IRIN Photo. Recent content includes NAMIBIA: The Challenge of Stigma, UGANDA: Love, positively, a film that looks at the lives of young adults who have been infected with HIV since birth and A Cleaner Fix (Indonesia) covering drug use with the purpose of educating the population about the risk of sharing needles. IRIN also includes a Hear Our Voices forum dedicated to those people whose voices are not often heard and blogs on humanitarian and development issues. Films and radio broadcasts can be downloaded from the website.
(Picture: IRIN Radio in Angola)
Tags: blogs, forums, radio
Posted in Blogs, Campaigns | 3 Comments »