Video Volunteers

"How do you work better with the government?" A question that's turning more and more heads grey at scale! Video Volunteers dug into this challenge and found that the real impact comes from balancing collaboration and persistence when working with the government. This approach boosted VV’s impact by 45%, reaching an additional 4.5 million people over the past year. But how to do it? Community Content Creators (CCs) experienced a shift in their mindset through VV’s training, viewing government officials as partners in co-creation. This small but powerful change enabled CCs to combine grassroots insights with government authority for mutually beneficial outcomes. Curious about how this shift worked? Read the full report for the key strategies developed by the CCs themselves. #NGOImpact #CommunityCollaboration #CitizenEmpowerment #SocialChange #GrassrootsAction Jessica Mayberry Stalin K Ashoka ASPIRe Amrita Sunita Anand Heena Singhal Zaheen Singh Gabrielle Kruks-Wisner Tanu Kumar Shabnam Begum Shankarlal Raikwar Kashif Akhtar Rasita Chik Baraik Madhur Kumar Anil Kumar Bideshini Kumkum Bhagya Shahroz Fatima Poonam Verma

We are excited to be part of this year’s #MisInfoCon India 2025 as Heena Singhal will be delivering a Lightning Talk. Come say Hi if any of you are around! Thank you Tattle Civic Technologies for the opportunity. Registrations are still open: https://lnkd.in/g6nMkMbt Schedule: https://lnkd.in/gXHZkvPs #MisInformation #AIForImpact #TechForGood #MediaInclusivity

‘How can you know what a stomach ache feels like if you’ve never had one?’ Video Volunteers believes the world would be a better place if the voices of thousands joined together to amplify every single cry for justice. Ashoka Fellow and VV Founder Jessica Kress-Mayberry and her team of volunteer correspondents work throughout India to empower India’s poorest citizens to right the wrongs they witness. Donate to Ashoka to support current and future Ashoka Fellows in their life changing work: https://shorturl.at/e8MEA Video Volunteers (VV) began more than 20 years ago with the flagship initiative, #IndiaUnheard, a news agency for India’s #disenfranchised communities. It is India’s only reporting network focused exclusively on providing broad coverage from the poorest, most media-dark districts in India - And it’s all produced by people living below the #poverty line. Covering topics like #education, #caste, #forcedeviction, #gender, #humantrafficing, and more, the videos on their website show you India through the eyes of those living today’s struggles, believing that the world – and in particular, social issues – look demonstrably different through the eyes of the #marginalized. VV teaches Correspondents not just to report, but also to initiate local campaigns, and approximately 1 in 5 videos manages to solve the underlying issue. Consider how much more knowledge you can gain when you listen to those closest to the problem. https://lnkd.in/dbpQViV6 Jessica has also participated in our Indian Diaspora Ashoka ASPIRe program, which connects social entrepreneurs to strategic thought partners to help scale their social impact. Many thanks to the thought partners who have supported VV, Shiva Kommareddi, Sirish Reddi, Isha V., Mannu Bhatia, Navneet Chugh, Sharat Potharaju and more. Ashoka India India Philanthropy Alliance Shruti Nair Gopal Garg Asier Ansorena Maria Zapata Jahnavi Nikkam Rohan Bhatia Prachee Sinha Ambika Sood Alex Counts Meenakshi Mahajan Peg Fourre Swathi Nuli, MPH Jenna Tieby Iveren Ityoikaa, FIMC #everyoneachangemaker #changemaking #actforimpact #ashokafellow #india #indiandiaspora #indianimpact #communityreporting #breakingbarriers #shedrivesimpact

Thrilled to share that The Quint has just published an article highlighting the remarkable findings from VV’s new report on community-led digital growth. Over a one year period, 120 Community Content Creators (CCs) supported by Video Volunteers implemented a new grassroots distribution strategy to achieve nearly 30% higher engagement and gain 75,000 new followers across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The study (April 2023–May 2024) details how these local storytellers improved their reach by: •⁠ ⁠22% on Facebook (240,745 to 293,573 followers) •⁠ ⁠61% on Instagram (14,519 to 23,362 followers) •⁠ ⁠84% on YouTube (15,271 to 28,068 subscribers) This growth isn’t just about numbers—an in-depth analysis shows CCs are amplifying community voices, consistently posting responsible, local-issue-focused content without hateful or misleading information.  Big thanks to my colleagues Heena Singhal and Saloni Yadav for the research and the original report, and to The Quint for writing this wonderful summary. To dive deeper into VV’s innovations in grassroots distribution and see how CCs are reshaping local narratives, read the full report on Video Volunteers website: https://lnkd.in/ddJQW6KF Let me know your thoughts on how we can further scale these digital engagement strategies and empower more communities to tell their own stories!

“What if AI could truly listen to the voices of a billion people who’ve never been heard?” That is the central question that Video Volunteers board member Lieve Fransen and I address in this new report on systemic silence and unheard voices in democracies—particularly among the poor and marginalized who, despite the explosion of social media, still go unheard. As the report says: “A human can hardly listen to the stories of a hundred people. But AI can ‘listen’ to a billion voices—if we make it fair, safe, and respectful of privacy. If we fail, AI could further increase marginalization. But if we succeed, AI could amplify those voices, making society more responsive and democracy more inclusive.” Read the full report to see our call to action for more research on community voice, and for a more inclusive, empathetic, and truly democratic AI revolution which serves all of humanity. Let’s shape a future where marginalized citizens feel heard. Are you working on something related or know people who are? I'd love to connect. #AIForAll #Inclusion #HumanRights #EthicalAI #Democracy #VoiceMatters #TechForGood #CenterTheCommunityVoice

Video Volunteers’ mission of making every voice heard cannot be achieved without a fair, inclusive, and secure digital future and that’s why it proudly endorses the Global Digital Compact! It also encourages all organizations to add their support before 28 February 2025 to be considered for the Secretary-General’s Global Digital Compact implementation map. Learn more and add your endorsement here: https://lnkd.in/eAQtXJBm Jessica Kress-Mayberry Stalin K Ashoka ASPIRe Amrita Sunita Anand Heena Singhal

Would you climb a palm tree just to get a phone signal and shine a light on your community’s issues? Most of us wouldn’t—or simply couldn’t. But that’s exactly how far Dina Ganvir goes. In the remote village of Kawardha, Chhattisgarh, Dina has become a beacon of hope for the marginalized Baiga tribe. They face daunting challenges: a lack of basic amenities, the erosion of land rights, and the constant struggle to preserve their culture. Dina’s journey is more than just hardship—it’s about resilience, empowerment, and unwavering determination. When she joined Video Volunteers, she feared failure; even using a camera felt intimidating. But with mentorship and grit, Dina turned her fears into strength, using her camera lens to spotlight neglected issues: - Lack of schools and Anganwadi centers - Limited access to clean drinking water - Policies threatening the Baiga's traditional rights Dina’s work caught the administration’s attention and empowered the Baiga community to speak up for themselves. Their gratitude for her dedication was profound: they gifted her a piece of land—a moving testament to their respect. Today, Dina represents the power of standing up for what truly matters. Let’s amplify voices like hers and celebrate the grassroots leaders driving real, lasting change. ニニニニ This story is part of a new series #Changechronicles – #दास्तान-ए-बदलाव , spotlighting the incredible work of Community Content Creators—real, powerful narratives that honor the resilience, dedication, and strength of individuals at the heart of change. #CenterTheCommunityVoice #SocialJustice #CommunityVoices #GrassrootsChange Jessica Kress-Mayberry Stalin K Ashoka ASPIRe Amrita Sunita Anand Heena Singhal

I recently attended the Digital Futures Lab Responsible AI Lab Fellowship Symposium 2024—an inspiring forum for exchanging ideas on building AI responsibly. At Video Volunteers, receiving the RAIL Fellowship is more than an honour—it’s a commitment. For us, that means harnessing AI to truly listen to marginalized voices, transforming their lived experiences into data that can drive real change. I firmly believe that if it doesn’t represent everyone, it doesn’t truly represent anyone. It was an absolute pleasure interacting with Anushka Jain Megha Garg Shweta Jain Chaudhury Suruchi Kumari Sara Chamberlain

Who Gets to Tell Their Story? At Video Volunteers, we wanted to examine an important question: are social media platforms truly fulfilling their promise of empowering marginalized individuals to share their own stories? This isn't just about access to technology. It's about reshaping power dynamics in media-ensuring those who face challenges like homelessness, incarceration, or disability aren't just heard but amplified. What We Found In partnership with two U.S. universities, we analyzed hundreds of videos. The findings were eye-opening: 🔎 Most content raising awareness comes from indirect spokespeople, not those with firsthand experiences. 🔎 While uploading is easier than ever, systemic barriers and platform algorithms often bury first-person narratives. What Needs to Change? To democratize storytelling, we need systemic shifts: 1️⃣ Invest in First-Person Creators: Offer funding, mentorship, and resources. 2️⃣ Platform Accountability: Address biases and prioritize diverse voices. 3️⃣ Education Reform: Empower underrepresented groups with storytelling tools. Why It Matters First-person narratives foster empathy, challenge stereotypes, and inspire systemic change. Movements like #BlackLivesMatter show the transformative power of grassroots storytelling. But these examples are exceptions-they must become the norm. If we want a more equitable world, we must do more than listen—we must amplify. Check out VV's website for the full report and tell us your thoughts in the comments about how can we better uplift first-person storytellers? #Storytelling #SocialJustice #Medialnclusivity #CenterTheCommunityVoice BYU Ballard Center for Social Impact Jessica Mayberry Stalin K Ashoka ASPIRe Amrita Sunita Anand Heena Singhal

⭐ Applications are now Open for the AI for Impact Fellowship! Super excited to share that we're lunching this Fellowship with our partners! Are you passionate about leveraging #AI to solve real-world challenges? Join a community of solvers, work on projects that create real-world solutions for pressing challenges across #Education, #Health, #ClimateChange, and more, get mentorship, and learn from an incredible lineup of speakers from leading organizations in AI, tech, and the Social Impact world, including Sarvam AI, Ashoka, Piramal Foundation, ARMMAN, Rocket Learning, Video Volunteers, Climate Asia, Sattva Consulting, Samagra | Transforming Governance, Tech4Good Community and many more. Who can Apply? - Senior Students and Early to Mid-Career Professionals Perks - Small Stipend + Tech & Travel Grant Duration - Part-time, 3-month fellowship 📅 Applications Deadline - 4th January, 2025 🚀 Apply Now / Learn More: https://lnkd.in/gUkWqWd6 Tag or share this with someone who’d be a great fit for this opportunity! #AIForImpact #TechForGood #Technology #Innovation Vaibhav Mishra | Pratyay Prakhar | Sayani Basu | 10x Impact Labs