Can young Ugandans use the internet to help them influence decisions and become better leaders during this electoral period?
As we slide/ bounce/ stagger (pick your choice!) or even merely enter or stumble upon AD 2010, a decade of the 21st century is already behind us. How special the beginning of the Second Millennium sounded, and seemed, at the time! I was hardly in University. The world was as it should be as it always is when you are still being nursed at lovely mother’s breast.
Ten years have passed away really fast. During this decade, I have experienced first hand the trials and triumphs (most were, which is contrary to popular belief about life in Africa) of a Ugandan life. It is these trials and triumphs that saw the birth of ChangeWaves in early 2008. ChangeWaves hopes to make Uganda and the East African region better than it is through the use of Information and Communication Technologies for Development.
In 2009, the organization focused on Web 2.0 training at various institutions, organizations and schools. This culminated into the development of training manual that are used ChangeWaves and partner organizations notably the Common Wealth People’s Association of Uganda (CPA-UG) that has used it to train students, civil servants and so on.
2010, is one year before the parliamentary and presidential elections are held in Uganda. It is for this reason that the organization is going to focus on strengthening the voice of women and youth in central and northern Uganda who are some of the most marginalized people in the country. Through communication activities and capacity building in new and electronic media (citizen media and social networking tools), ChangeWaves will foster increased knowledge sharing and information flow between Ugandan women, youth and decision-makers thus strengthen their involvement in decision making process at household, community and national level.
Citizen journalism and blogs will serve as a platform for interaction between people, communities and Ugandan authorities thus bridging the communication gap. Journalists and CSOs, women and youth (both male and female) will be trained in citizen media and blogging for transformational development across all sectors.
They will also be trained to use the new media to enlist debate on topical issues and influence decision making at all levels from household to national level.
Want to make a difference, join ChangeWaves and be a part of the change that we all want to see in this decade. Happy New Year!
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