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.

The 2019 Bassel Khartabil Fellowship is currently calling for applications. This fellowship was created to honor Bassel, “the Syrian-Palestinian visionary who opened the internet in the Arab world,” who dedicated his life to open culture, open knowledge, and the empowerment of his fellow people. As a way to continue his legacy by supporting outstanding people who have similar ideals of fostering open culture in their own communities, the one-year Fellowship will provide a stipend, an allowance for equipment, travel, and other types of ongoing support, such as mentorship and skills development. Please see here for more details.

APPLICATION DUE: September 28, 2019

In celebration of the International Year of Indigenous languages 2019 (#IYIL19), Rising Voices has joined forces with our partners in organizing four rotating Twitter campaigns to highlight the work of indigenous language activists from across the world.  If you are curious about the current status of indigenous languages worldwide as well as what’s involved in their revitalization and/or promotion, please do follow our campaigns on Twitter!  And if you wish to learn more about our recent hosts, you would definitely want to check their profile posts as follows:

@DigiAfricanLang (Africa)

• Kingsley Oluchi Ugwuanyi on his arguments why the Nigerian English should be considered as a distinct language of Nigeria
• Sam Oyeyele on the Yoruba language, spoken in Nigeria, and the lack of digital support for the language

@ActLenguas (Latin America)

• Imbaya Cachiguango [es] on the Kichwa language, spoken in Ecuador
• Leobardo Arnoauld Avendaño Martínez [es] on the Triqui language, spoken in Oaxaca, Mexico

@AsiaLangsOnline (Asia)

• Wong Cin Wun on the Kaxabu language, spoken in Taiwan
• Mangu Purty on the Ho language, spoken in some parts of India

In addition to digital activism on indigenous languages, we’d like to bring your attention to the Philippines for a glimpse of what their community radio stations must face during the President Rodrigo Duterte era. → “Filipino community radio stations struggle to survive amid attacks and difficulties”

Next, we would like to take you to East Africa for a moment and share with you this story republished from Localization Lab about the challenges and opportunities for Swahili speakers in their localization efforts. → “We can’t give up: Localizing digital safety for Swahili speakers”

The Indigenous Community Research Fellowships by the American Philosophical Society (APS) is now open for applications.  This fellowship is intended to support members of indigenous communities or academic/educational backgrounds in furthering their research projects by allowing access to APS resources at their Library & Museum.  Please see here for application details and eligibility requirements.  Application due: October 15, 2019

The Magnum Foundation’s 2020 Photography and Social Justice Fellowship is currently calling for applications.  Offered in partnership with the Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York, this fellowship aims to help motivated photographers become better at storytelling as well as eliciting social change by way of their creative endeavors.  Please visit their site for further information.  Application due: October 15, 2019

Are you a professional photographer who cares about social justice and strives to tell stories about it, or the lack of it, through your work?  The organization Doctors of the World (Spain) is calling for participation in its Luis Valtueña International Humanitarian Photography Award. Please see here [en] [es] [fr] to learn more about the story behind this award and for application details.  Application due: November 8, 2019 (24:00 Spanish Continental time)

Did you miss out on the last round of Terralingua’s calling for stories?  If you are an indigenous youth (aged 18-30), please consider sending your stories to the Indigenous Youth Storytellers Circle project and have them published for a global audience.  This is your chance to celebrate the United Nations’ International Year of Indigenous Languages (#IYIL19) along with the rest of the world!  Please see here [en] [es] [fr] for details.  Submission due: October 1, 2019

Are you curious about how Guatemalan indigenous languages and technology work together?  You are invited to attend the Xela Event of Digital Activists of Indigenous Languages and find out for yourself.  This is a free event and part of the FLLii2019 activities.  Please see here [es] for registration and event details.  Date: September 27, 2019

The Alliance for Affordable Internet believes that simply having access to the Internet is no guarantee for development and equality opportunity.  The quality of connection matters. Hence, they have developed a new standard to help raise the bar — Meaningful Connectivity.  Want to learn more about it?  Join them in this free webinar.  Date: October 3, 2019 (8am, EDT).

The 11th Global Investigative Journalism Conference (#GIJC19) is coming soon!  Along with all programs of the year, the Global Investigative Journalism Network and the Native American Journalists Association have compiled a new resource guide, specifically for investigative journalists working in the indigenous context.  [Note: Registration for this event has been closed; however, you can still get yourself on the waiting list, in case there is any cancellations.  You can also sign up for their newsletter to stay tuned for future events and fellowship opportunities.]

• MIL Gaming! via the Media and Information Literacy Expert Network (MILEN)
• The Complicated Decisions That Come With Digitizing Indigenous Languages via Slate
• EVENTO Coban de Activismo Digital de Lenguas Indigenas [es] as presented by Festival de Lenguas Indígenas en Internet FLLii2019 via YouTube
• Milpa Digital #5: Mensajería, llamadas e intercambio de archivos con Wire [es] as presented by Código Sur
• Lenguas Indígenas en Internet [es] as presented by CINU (Centro de Información de las Naciones Unidas) via YouTube

 

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