The VOTED project will train persons with disabilities by use of voice activated software, to use Citizen Journalism and speak out on issues affecting them and how to make society more inclusive for PWD’s. These issues include lack of accessible facilities, access to technology, educational facilities and job opportunities. This will be accomplished through the launch of an online magazine creating awareness through social media and radio stations.
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
The VOTED project will be in form of an online magazine that will document thought provoking articles creating awareness in society on issues faced by PWDs. The articles will enlighten the public, media houses, potential corporate companies on the plight of PWD’s, the need for changed policies, inclusion & creating jobs for the disabled. They will learn how to upload blog posts as well as interact through social media, email and video pod-casts.
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.
Our organization launched a project dubbed the ‘Tech-Abled’ project in partnership with HP East Africa to provide laptops to 20 existing members of the organizations with disabilities. The VOTED project will build on this project by working with the beneficiaries to create an online presence through the online magazine & social media. We have partnered with Nuance Company to obtain voice activated software packages used to train quadriplegics.
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
The organization intends to train 40 persons with spinal cord injuries who are existing members of the organization brought in through various ongoing projects. Training will be done by the organizations director who is also disabled as well as staff from the organization previously trained in Citizen Journalism. The beneficiaries will be put on a monthly schedule to contribute articles and we shall have bi-monthly meetings to ensure consistency.
Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?
We would appreciate to be linked to various online forums and magazines dealing with persons with disabilities so as to create networking opportunities for our beneficiaries. We would also request for mentors in the journalism field that may be able to guide the beneficiaries, providing them with further knowledge on expressing themselves through Citizen Media.
Organization
Chariots of Destiny Organization
Twitter URL
