A community around using social tech for social impact

Empower - how do we do it?

The process of using digital media is as empowering if not more than the outcome. What do you think?

Permalink Reply by Peter Day on October 7, 2009 at 5:59pm: I agree whole heartedly....in brighton, we find that it is the process of bringing people together to learn to use ICT and then engage in dialogue of how this new knowledge can be used to contribute to community life that is as, if not more, empowering than the actual outcome of that process.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kim Townsend on October 9, 2009 at 11:09am: I definitely agree that the learning of new skills can be extremely empowering for people - particularly among those who may not have excelled at conventional education as a child. When they realise for the first time that they do have the skills to create something of value that makes a difference to their community that's extremely empowering.

In saying that though, perhaps the outcome of a digital media project (i.e. a film or a web-article) is just as important as the process, because that is what the individual can take ownership of and feel a sense of pride over. It gives people the sense of "wow - I did that".

Maybe it depends on the type of media and what we mean by outcome - what do you think?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peter Day on October 9, 2009 at 1:56pm: Actually, thinking back I agree with you Kim....the realisation that people/communities have the capacity/capability to achieve something that they previously would have thought impossible and that they actually did/achieved it is empowering.

Thanks for that insight.

Kim Townsend said:
I definitely agree that the learning of new skills can be extremely empowering for people - particularly among those who may not have excelled at conventional education as a child. When they realise for the first time that they do have the skills to create something of value that makes a difference to their community that's extremely empowering.

In saying that though, perhaps the outcome of a digital media project (i.e. a film or a web-article) is just as important as the process, because that is what the individual can take ownership of and feel a sense of pride over. It gives people the sense of "wow - I did that".

Maybe it depends on the type of media and what we mean by outcome - what do you think?; ▶ Reply to This

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