On Friday January 15, 2010 an Open Space event took place on the potential of new (mobile) media and youth in developing countries. The event was part of the Fill the Gap! event series organised each year by Hivos, IICD and OneWorld.nl . Fill the Gap! is a meeting place for everyone interested in ICT and international development cooperation.
At the 7th edition of Fill the Gap! people were invited to share ideas about how international development cooperation can use the potential power of digital natives to tackle development problems. Digital natives are the youth of today for whom the use of new (mobile) technology is the most natural thing in the world. Shaped by the digital era and at ease with creativity, these innovators have the ability to use new media to change the world. Just think of the Twitter revolution in Iran. What can the international development sector learn from this? How can their skills be strengthened and put to use for a better world?
The kick-off was hosted by Jennifer Corriero, co-founder of Taking IT Global: the international platform for youth and the use of new media for a better world. She delivered an inspiring key-note about different types of digital natives and how best to involve them. All participants were than invited to bring in ideas to discuss during the open space sessions with people from new media, the business world and the international development sector. For a full report and an impression of the day, read the report here below or watch our videos.
