Grantee name: Digital Democracy

Mission: Digital Democracy's (Dd) mission is to empower marginalized communities to use technology to build their futures. Dd works with local partners to put information into the hands of people who need it most – those neglected, disenfranchised or abused. Dd emphasizes education, communication and participation to empower citizens to build and shape their own communities.

Location: New York, NY, USA

Website: www.digital-democracy.org

YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/digitaldemocracycam

Channel Grants: Channel made a grant to Digital Democracy in order to continue support for training and capacity-building work in Haiti with women’s groups working to end gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual violence. (2011)

Digital Democracy's work in Haiti is focused on the following projects: 
• creating a digital database for documenting cases of GBV;
• establishing the first rape response hotline in Haiti;
• mapping data on GBV and using it to advocate for necessary changes at the local, national & international level;
• providing comprehensive technical training to women and girls to amplify their voices to effectively advocate for preventative measures to address violence.

Channel made a grant to Digital Democracy (through the fiscal sponsorship of the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy), an organization that strives to empower marginalized communities with digital technologies, in order to support their work in Haiti focused on conducting trainings on multi-media, digital technology and security with members of several grassroots Haitian women’s groups (including KOFAVIV (Komisyon Fanm Viktim pou Viktim, The Commission of Women Victim), FAVILEK & KONAMAVID) combating gender based violence and sexual violence in Port-au-Prince and in the refugee camps. Digital Democracy supports and helps build the capacity of these women’s groups, as well as liaising with legal and medical partner organizations. (2010)

Resources:

To read the KOFAVIV blog, Fanm Pale, in Creole and English click here

To watch a five-minute video focused on Shirley Christoff, one of many rape survivors who has received assistance from KOFAVIV and who is rebuilding after rape and working together with other women to create social change in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, check out this film from IRIN, the news agency of the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: IRIN | Film | Haiti's Rape Survivors.

 

Photos courtesy of Digital Democracy.