We will utilize online technologies to advocate the local public authorities to keep their promises of infrastructural change in the outskirts of Turda. We will accomplish this by building an activist group to create online pressure on the local authorities to tackle this issue in an efficient manner. The activists will network with the local community to actively engage them in this issue and transfer their online campaign knowledge.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Turda
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
The outskirt communities with which we’ll work cannot advocate change for themselves because they do not use technology due to age and/or low economic levels. We want to engage these citizens to become active in their communities and learn to effectively utilize online and media resources in campaigning. We will train these activists to utilize online technologies effectively to pressure the local authorities into creating infrastructural changes
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
We envision creating media pressure by using resources to blog, flyer, and petition the local authorities to implement infrastructural changes. The participants will regularly update social media sources to raise support for this issue. They will also update a blog regarding the problems observed, promises made, and solutions taken. Digital photography has an important role in these efforts so people will see and read about the issues.
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 have implemented the project “Cine ce a promis” (Who promised what) which focuses on documenting politician promises made in certain areas of Transylvania and Romania. Through this project, we have developed networks with other organizations (such as Ce-Re and Pro Democratia) that are active in this domain and will assist us. We also have a partnership with Techsoup Romania which will support us in technological support services and trainings.
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
We estimate that 60 people will get involved as community activists. We will train these people in groups of 10-15 to utilize online resources and write articles about what is happening in their neighborhoods and on their streets. We will approach these people through our volunteer network and word of mouth. Through these grassroots efforts, this campaign will be sustained by the community buy-in aspect of developing this initiative organically.
Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?
Besides the funding, the other resources and support that Rising Voices can provide for this project are publicity assistance, international visibility of this issue, and help with finding possible future partners and regional/international networking opportunities.
Contact name
Andras Balogh
Organization
Ratiu Center for Democracy – Fundatia Ratiu pentru Democratie