Together with partners, Rising Voices has organised a series of
social media campaigns featuring language activists from Asia, Latin America, Africa, Canada, the United States, and Europe as a flagship activity. These activists take turns hosting Twitter accounts dedicated to their respective regions and share stories about language revitalisation and the internet's role in it. Participants share personal experiences and insights related to their work in language revitalisation, either as individuals or representatives of organisations, tribes, or nations. Their goal is to raise awareness about their languages, especially among those unfamiliar with them, while connecting with similar communities and activists across regions. The activity of organising social media campaigns, in particular, has several direct connections to the demonstrable interrelated impacts of the Rising Voices Initiative, in general:
1. By bridging the participation gap and supporting marginalized communities to use the internet, this initiative can enhance digital inclusion. This means that more people, regardless of their language or cultural background, can access online resources and participate in the digital world.
2. Through the use of technology and the internet, individuals from these communities can access educational resources and knowledge that can empower them. This leads to improved educational outcomes and individual well-being.
3. The initiative helps preserve and revitalise indigenous and minority languages, which are often at risk of disappearing. This has a direct impact on the preservation of cultural heritage and identity.
4. Bringing more languages into the global conversation enriches the creation and dissemination of information. It also fosters intercultural dialogues and mutual understanding. This, in turn, contributes to peace and trust in the online world, potentially leading to positive social and political impacts.
In sum, the initiative's focus on amplifying local voices and promoting language use in new domains like the internet empowers communities to take control of their own narratives and digital presence and has the potential to impact digital inclusion, cultural preservation, education, policy, cross-cultural learning, and community empowerment, all of which can have far-reaching effects on individual well-being, cultural diversity, and the democratisation of digital media.
Learn more about the Rising Voices initiative
here.
