Organiser – DEFIndia
Digital Empowerment Foundation aims to connect unreached and underserved communities of India in an effort to bring them out of digital darkness and empower them with information access through last mile connectivity, digital literacy and digital interventions. With the motto to ‘Inform, Communicate and Empower,’ DEF aims to find sustainable ICT solutions to overcome information poverty in remote and rural locations of India. In an effort to achieve this aim, DEF has adopted a multi-stakeholder approach and a six-fold path to enable communities, governments, schools, civil society organisations and micro-enterprises to avail the benefits of the Information Age. Under this six-fold programme approach, DEF initiates projects in the areas of Access & Infrastructure; Education & Empowerment; Governance & Citizen Services; Markets & Social Enterprises; Knowledge Hub & Network; Research & Advocacy.
Co Organiser- Facebook
Founded in 2004, Facebook’s mission is to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what’s going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them. To know more about Facebook – https://newsroom.fb.com/company-info/
Institutional Partners
The World Summit Award (WSA) is a global activity to select and promote the world’s best e-Content and most innovative ICT applications. It offers a worldwide platform for all who value the creative use of ICTs and who are committed to making today’s information society more inclusive. WSA was initiated by Austria in 2003 in the framework of the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and is organised by a global partner network, coordinated by the International Center for New Media. WSA partners come from governments, private sector and civil society in over 178 UN member states.
UNESCO is responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication. It strengthens the ties between nations and societies and mobilises the wider public so that each child and citizen has access to quality education, a basic human right and an indispensable prerequisite for sustainable development; they may grow and live in a cultural environment rich in diversity and dialogue, where heritage serves as a bridge between generations and people; they can fully benefit from scientific advances; and can enjoy full freedom of expression; The basis of democracy, development and human dignity.
UNESCO’s messages are of increasing importance today, in a globalised world where interconnections and diversity must serve as opportunities to build peace in the minds of men and women.
Event Partner- Inomy
INOMY is a Media and Technology company providing services like e-content, e-learning, Documentary Film Making, Web and Online Software Development, Web Designing, Designing, Printing and content development at various levels. It was formed in 1999 to focus on the emerging new economy, information economy, and knowledge society. INOMY started with publishing e-newsletter and later expanding itself in publishing e-books, and other formal electronic.
Live Streaming Partner- GoNews
GoNews is India’s first-of-its-kind app-based television news channel that delivers personalised news to viewers on their smartphones and smart TVs at a time of their choosing. The recently launched channel is collaborating with content generators in rural India to offer news and stories, not more than 90 seconds long, which often go unreported or which are not available at other commercial news outlets. The narratives are specific, crisp and compelling; and cover a wide variety of Indian and global subjects from politics to public policy; from agriculture to the arts; from technology to travel; from environment to entertainment; from economy to enrichment of life. It is also the first digital news platform in the country to adhere and abide by the self-regulatory mechanism of the News Broadcasters Association.
Outreach Partner- MPpost
mppostInternet media is active for the last 2 decades and it is coming out in new design. In Hindi speaking states, it is in infancy stage of Internet journalism. Looking at possibilities of Internet journalism first Hindi Internet newspaper MPPost was started from 1st January, 2005.
Country Partners
Bhutan Media and Communications Institute (BMCI), primarily a training and consultancy firm based in Thimphu is run as a social enterprise with a deep-rooted value system that respects and regards all aspects of life. The diversity and nature of programmes and projects handled by them is a testimony of their quiet and diligent effort towards social service. In order to sustain their initiative, they also attract a number of like-minded trainers and partners as volunteers. Their recent venture into international computer skills certification as ICDL Asia’s partner in Bhutan and social media trainings in partnership with DEF, Social Friendly and other organisations is exploring new grounds to empower different sections of the society.
Inspiration, empathy, respect and support for each other and for partners and participants form the essence of its organizational culture. The team intricately matches their professionalism with humility.
Forum for Digital Equality (FDE) has been working in the area of cyber security awareness, policy discussion and capacity building. They have also designed ICT plan for various District Development Committees (Kathmandu, Tanahun and Morang) and also drafted the Information, Communication and Education (IEC) Strategic Plan for Local Governance and Community Development Project (LGCDP) (2009) for Ministry of Local Development, Government of Nepal.
Sarvodaya-Fusion is a social enterprise focused on ICT for Development with the mission “e-empowerment of rural communities”. It’s a unit of Sarvodaya movement, the oldest and largest charity non-profit organization in Sri Lanka. In its scope of social engagement, Fusion has successfully designed and delivered programs providing Digital Literacy, Digital Access and Digital Benefits.
