RV Newsletter: A step-by-step guide to running your own social media network

Image by Simon Cockell and used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Rising Voices note: Our biweekly newsletter provides a summary of our recent blog posts about all aspects of digital inclusion including access and adoption of digital tools, as well as different ways and opporunities for communities to fully participate online. Read here for previous editions of this newsletter.

Remember the Mozilla Fellowship program that we shared with you a few months back?  Maybe you missed the application deadline to be a Mozilla Fellow for the year of 2019-2020.  However, you can sign up to be notified when it’s open again via the link on this page.  And in this issue of the RV Newsletter, we would like to share with you the latest work of a Mozilla Fellow belonging to the 2018-2019 cohort.

In a time where social media seems to have found a pervasive way to seep into our lives, the idea of a more decentralized social media ecosystem may, or may not, have crossed your mind.  Darius Kazemi, on the other hand, has put in some deep thoughts around this and come up with a proposal to hopefully change things around.  Darius has made his work available under a CC BY 4.0 license.  So, if you are curious about how it can be done, please go check it out.  And, please don’t forget to share your thoughts with us — you know we are always happy to hear from you!

MORE FROM THE RISING VOICES BLOG

For this issue, we’d like you to meet two recent hosts of our rotating Twitter project on African language digital activism (@DigiAfricanLang)!  We would like to thank Bonface Witaba for sharing with us his work on the Swahili language and Davy Nlovu for his work on the Tjwao language.  Please read the Q&A posts to learn more about them and their work!

Also in this issue, we’d like to introduce you to a recent guest-host of @ActLenguas — indigenous language digital activist David Abdón Galeano Olivera [es] (Guaraní, spoken in Paraguay and other countries in the region).  In his profile post, you’ll get to know more about him and his work in revitalizing/promoting of the Guaraní language.

And if you are curious about how Native American and First Nations language revitalization efforts are being aided by the internet and technology, you should check out what our recent hosts of @NativeLangsTech have to say about their work in digital activism for these languages.  We present you the Q&A blog posts with recent hosts Mei Jeanne Wagner (for the Hawaiian language spoken by kānaka maoli (Native Hawaiians)) and the Myaamia Center (for the Myaamia language spoken by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma in the United States).

FUNDING

Missed the last round of Filmmakers Without Borders (FWB)’ filmmaking grants, which we shared a while back?  These grants are provided to empower the next generation of digital storytellers worldwide on their efforts in promoting social justice, empowerment, or cultural exchange.  Independent filmmakers, novice or experienced, please don’t miss out on this round of application. Application due: August 1, 2019 (Fall Cycle)

The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) will soon be taking a new round of applications from full-time women journalists all over the world (with 3+ years of professional experience) for their Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists.  Looking for some grants to support your endeavor in gender-balanced journalism?  Please consider applying for this fund. Application open: August 1, 2019 – September 5, 2019

Are you an independent filmmaker who cares about social justice and is aspiring to make an impact through your work?  Or, maybe you are an organization supporting the same cause via this type of storytelling? The Ford Foundation wants to support you in this endeavor with its year-round JustFilms grants.  Interested in applying? Please visit their site for details and guidance.    [H/T - APC’s Community Networks newsletter]

TOOLS & RESOURCES

Living in an area where internet access is scarce and trying to set up the service in your community?  This is for you: Digital Empowerment Foundation has published a course named “Setting Up Wireless Networks: A Course for Barefoot Wireless Engineers” via OAsis of the Commonwealth of Learning (Canada).  This course is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) and is provided for free.  [H/T - APC’s Community Networks newsletter]

Are you a parent or an educator looking for children’s stories in your native language?  A writer, a translator, or an illustrator loving to share good stories, in your own language or via your visual work?  You are welcome here on StoryWeaver, a digital gateway to a diverse repository of multilingual stories for children as well as a collaborative platform where all contributors get to showcase their works to the world.  Go take a look! (Free access/CC BY 4.0)

ADDITIONAL READINGS, LISTENINGS, and VIEWINGS

 

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Thanks to Eddie Avila for contributions to this newsletter. 

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