Rising Voices….
In preparing for the dreamblogue project David and I applied for grant from Global Voices Online via their new Rising Voices initiative. Rising Voices is the outreach arm of Global Voices.
The recipients have already been chosen (no, I don’t know) and will be announced on Monday. Over 140 applications from 40 countries came in from what appears to be a true “Who’s Who in Global Citizen Journalism.”
According to their website, “Global Voices aggregates, curates, and amplifies the global conversation online – shining light on places and people other media often ignore. Global Voices Online is a non-profit global citizens’ media project founded at Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society, a research think-tank focused on the Internet’s impact on society.”
Ethan Zuckerman and Rebecca McKinnon were the driving forces at Harvard behind the formation of Global Voices. It has become one of the most respected news and reporting endeavors on the net and recently won the Knight-Batten Grand Prize for Innovations in Journalism.
Soon after applying for the grant we were informed by David Sasaki, GVOL’s Outreach Director, that there would be a online group created for all applicants to share their wishes, resources and dreams. In combing the bio’s of the members thus far I am awed by the creativity, courage and commitment of everyone I have read about: Nasim Fekrat one of the winners of the Freedom of Expression Blog Awards from Reporters without Borders; Kathleen Gerahty who co-created Picure Us a photo exchange program for kids 8-12 aimed at increasing self esteem through photography, storytelling and art; Marnie Gustavson who now lives in Kabul, Afghanistan and is the executive director of PARSA, (Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Services for Afghanistan); Yuanzhou Qu with the imaginative and much needed China based 1 KG program that brings inspiration and supplies to rural villages…..
The list of participants is long and inspiring. David and I are truly grateful to Global Voices for the chance to meet Internet Chance-takers and the Good Samaritans of many faiths and background. Only 4-6 of the projects will initially be funded and I do not envy Mr. Sasaki. I would like to see everyone able to further global connections via this group….We hope to bring you stories on the dreamblogue and here at OMBW about some of these programs. Caution: It could positively change your world-view….
Update on the China Dreamblogue: more than 100 people have visited one of the intended beneficiaries of our group, The Library Project, and have offered services and financing. California Polytechnic will be weighing in with scholarship/educational support for the students we meet along the way and we are firming up a few more such relationships we hope to announce to you by early next week.
I am still nearly bedridden with a fractured ankle, but in high spirits….Regular blogging resumes tomorrow….
L
