Guatemalan Congress is highly criticised but also highly unknown by the majority of the population (many don't speak spanish). Our project will provide the common citizen access to their representatives by letting them interact and get to know their congressmen using workshops and providing free and accessible information. We want to empower local citizens to demand their needs to their representatives and more important, question the status quo.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Guatemala, Izabal, Quetzaltenango, Sololá, Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Huehuetenango, Petén, Retaulhleu, San Marcos,
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
We will be working with rural population to whom this information is less known because they don't have access to internet or local newspapers. Our attempt is to inspire young community leaders, women and men to get to know their Congress and their congressman. We would like that the rural population began questioning the congressman's work so the democracy in Guatemala instead of being just a vote every 4 years became more participative.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
They will create question's and advices to their congressman in their own languages. We want the congressman to know their needs and we want rural population know they have the power to ask for it. The content will show news and stories according to their reality -How politicians promise heaven and after the election they get nothing. Rural population would be able to ask for campaign promises to be fulfilled.
What technologies and digital tools do you plan to use in the trainings?
Describe the connections that you or your organization have already established that will contribute to the success of the project.
We connections in many organizations that work in civil society like: Fundación Guatemala 2020, Red Ciudadana, Plaza Pública, ASIES, Campus Tecnológico TEC, etc… We've also worked with government agencies like CONAPROM, COPRET and the Congress.
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
We will train at least 40 young leaders and we will give them the means to replicate the project.
Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?
Computers, cameras, developers, translators and interpreters (for the nonofficial guatemalan language)
Contact name
Daniel Marroquín
Organization
Congreso Transparente