The Interactive Resource Centre (IRC) and Maati TV in collaboration with the US Mission Pakistan and the Social Justice Institute (Ohio, USA) organised an eight-day Digital Literacy Camp in Lahore.
As many as 50 youth participants from across Pakistan were selected for the eight-day camp focused on engaging opinion leaders and advancing cross cultural understanding. The camp took place from January 28, 2020 to February 5, 2020. US Consul General Catherine Rodriguez attended the official closing ceremony presenting certificates and sharing words of encouragement for participants and their future endeavors.
Camp participants explored digital literacy, learning various technical online tools and app development mechanisms to promote the themes of gender equality, interfaith harmony, peaceful coexistence and digital security. The project activity did not only build the capacity of these youth opinion leaders to have a positive impact on the digital space but also it was an opportunity for cross cultural interaction with different individuals. During the event, various musical performances by the participants took place and different cultural songs were played by flute. In the closing ceremony, participants from different provinces gave speeches regarding the issues they faced back home and what were their future goals at the end of this workshop. Focusing on the issue that after meeting people from such diverse backgrounds how their perspectives had changed. Later on, their developed app ideas were shown and 2 of the collective videos they made during the workshop.
The event concluded with participants being divided into 10 groups and pitching ideas for their own digital campaigns, using the skill set they acquired during the workshop. The panel of judges included digital communication professionals who selected the 20 campaigns with the most impactful and comprehensive ideas. Those selected will be provided with financial and technical support by the Interactive Resource Centre (IRC) team for one year to develop their proposals.
The Social Justice Institute is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University. They develop innovative solutions by supporting creative research, scholarship, and pedagogy; social justice leaders on and off campus; and relationships within the university and into the community. Interactive Resource Centre (IRC) is a nonprofit info media organization striving to promote empowerment and social development among the marginalized members of the society through art based development and media advocacy as its tools and through various alternative platforms such as the annual theatre of the oppressed festival, Vasakh documentary film festivals and Maati TV, Pakistan’s first official web TV.
