As digital literacy becomes ever more important in today's world, a potential danger is that the digital divide between the "haves" and "have nots" will increase. To address this social issue, the Committee for Democratization of Information Technology (CDI) relies on corporate donations (including unused computers) to support technological education for traditionally marginalized populations. Based in Latin America, CDI aims to encourage social change from the ground up through information accessed on the internet to support a curriculum in citizen rights.
Citizens who begin as students in the Information Technology & Citizen's Rights Schools (ITCRS) ultimately become instructors. Since its inception, CDI has touched the lives of over a million people. Vialogues users had a lively discussion about the innovative aspects of the project and its potential to encourage the democratization of learning.
@00:14 Glamorgan: I am skeptical- can technology really "transform lives" in poor areas? Isn't the social context too complicated for technology to be the "silver bullet?"
@01:56 elisa brazil: Technological inclusion is not just about how to use a computer, but also it impacts low-income communities to obtain information, which allows them to understand their reality in a larger societal context
@03:15 Glamorgan: This is a great example of how knowledge is power. The youth in the program learned about a problem through the Internet and then mobilized for change.
@05:49 Glamorgan: I agree with his statement that, "Technology is bringing sweeping change around the world, but it must be channeled properly."