Open Forum’s core interventions in the
use of ICTs for MDGs lie in enhancing communication
opportunities at the grassroots through community
and social media.
People’s Radio for Development
The highly affordable, accessible and powerful
medium of radio has been strategically employed
to amplify grassroots voices and turn passive
listeners into active creators of content. Open
Forum’s multi-dimensional community oriented
radio programme K4D e-radio achieved a milestone
in January 2009 with the broadcast of its episode
on different community radio stations, apart
from its broadcast online, which are today popular
mainstream channel. The programme incorporates
capacity building workshops for Community Based
Organisations (CBOs) in the use of audio tools
as a means for social and economic empowerment,
and for networking and content sharing. The
Grassroots Broadcasters’ Network and a
vibrant community of radio listeners are a positive
result of our work. The new web-based Audio
Content Exchange Bank is now available online
at http://radio.openforum.in. There are plans
for similar initiatives with partners in throughout
Nation.
Digital Documentation
Open Forum’s audio and video documentation
of partner initiatives has enhanced the coverage
and visibility of people’s voices and
campaigns. The recent activity of DLP is also
highlighting the value of Digital Documentation
and helping grassroots communities to find related
information by use of this project either they
are online of offline.
Advocacy Centres
These rural information hubs work on the principle
of K4D, an open knowledge platform initiated
by Open Forum. Using an innovative open source
knowledge exchange tool called Open DLP, these
centres facilitate the creation, collation and
exchange of local content in local language
even in areas with limited internet connectivity.
These centers also encourage the effective integration
of online and offline, traditional and new media
for advocacy on issues of local concern.
