In development, it is usually given that new ideas will be tested through a pilot phase. It is then up to the people who have visualized and conceptualized the idea to take it to its logical conclusion. To replicate something that has worked well in a small community, and take it to a national level is something that would need not only excellent planning, but also support from a wide range of players including the government, private enterprise and most importantly the people, or communities to take it forward in a manner that would have the maximum impact. In the same light, the use of ICTs in development such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has long been argued over and debated. It started off with the notion wherein ICTs were seen as external to other development targets and a choice had to be made between the two. Finally we’ve gotten round to accepting that there is a huge potential that ICTs offer in reaching out to people, bridging gaps and therefore acting as key tools in development initiatives.

The Open Forum Programme, Activities & Services envisions a people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society, where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge, enabling individuals, communities and peoples to achieve their full potential in promoting their sustainable development and improving their quality of life. Whether it is a community newspaper, community radio or even a telecentre, the potential it offers in terms of reaching development goals such as the MDGs is tremendous.

It is in this context that Open Forum has been is organizing Advocacy Conferences, Panel Discussion and other development based initiatives that seeks to explore the path that needs to be charted from the embryotic stage and ahead, in other words, from piloting an initiative to up-scaling it. People from the grassroots communities have come forth to share their experiences of using ICTs within the communities to bring about positive change in the lives of people. They have also shared their vision of the future when they see their work being taken forward to the next level.

Key learning of the programme
The primary lesson of implementing the programme is the recognition that simply providing the e-media tools with which Open Forum has been associated is inadequate as a strategy to meaningfully engage and support people in their attempts to gain influence. Critical success factors for appropriating technology towards voicing the voiceless includes, inter alia,

1.	Knowledge Sharing to support learning about the potential of ICT, especially in South-South context;
2.	Appraisal of technology in the context of community need and organisational strategy; selection only of appropriate technology
3.	Concrete programme goals with professional & tailored capacity building
4.	Expert support from trusted, specialist, well-connected NGO
5.	Direct access to and control of the ICT tool by the users - working with people who have direct experience of or are directly affected by the issue
6.	Focused, (opportunistic) advocacy, connecting those seeking change with decision makers; review and follow-up before horizontal extension and expansion of scope.

Through its complementing programme areas, Open Forum has been successful in integrating the traditional NGO role with that of ICT specialist to implement the strategic intent of ‘voicing the voiceless’. In doing it, Open Forum has been able to link more effectively with its partners, since it has further developed its capacity to understand and operate in the realm of the partners work. At same time Open Forum continues to be able to leverage the global reach and its programme to meet the needs of people at community level and its NGO partners. Open Forum also gains a clearer understanding of how to introduce and use ICT tools. By embracing more ‘traditional’ approaches development Open Forum is empowering people to use and appropriate ICT tools that are appropriate to the situation. Open Forum has also been investing in Radio (establishing a Radio studio and integrating audio work into its programmes) and other innovative tools such as Digital Knowledge Network, K4D; Telephone based QA solution, and language enabled web content hosting to complement existing technology toolsets for ICD interventions. The current framework provides unique opportunity of to bring together and align components of the Open Forum programme into an integrated ‘Voice’ programme. The infrastructure of such an initiative is human as well as technical, in the sense of being made up of people trained and confident in the use of multiple facets of ICT. It will enable local voices and knowledge, expressed in audio and/or video as well as text, to be disseminated and shared among grassroots communities through a set of interconnect tools and Open Forum network of links. This enhances Open Forum’s ability to play a pivotal infomediary and communications role since at the same time it is connected to major, high-level policy debates relating to ICT4D within India through its network partners and other consortiums.

But to address the grassroots communities at large and take the Programme, Services and Activities to the grassroots level we also need support from the Bilateral Organizations, Groups, Individuals, and Corporate Houses, etc. Taking above facts into consideration we at Open Forum has always urged for supporting the Programme and Activities of Open Forum and extending the helping hand to make the Social development as Sustainable Social Development as to achieve its Vision and Goals. Ways to collaborate include:
1. Innovative partnerships
2. Strategic philanthropic initiatives
3. Global, regional and local cause-marketing initiatives
4. Employee-driven programmes

Take action now
Individuals and organizations in India that support the Open Forum Programmes and Activities must make a considerable effort to educate their fellow citizens about the importance of Social development. People can support the Activities and Programme as following methodologies:
1. Intellect Support
2. Editorial Support
3. Associating with Services
4. Partnering for Development
5. Subscribe Services
6. Advertisement in Publication
7. Support Forthcoming Events