Youth Ki Awaaz’s Post

🎥 Reflecting on 2024: Stories, Data, and Collective Action 🎥 As we at Youth Ki Awaaz wrap up 2024, we’re reflecting on a year where storytelling, data, and collective action shaped meaningful change. At YKA, this year was all about amplifying voices, shifting narratives, and driving behavior change together. From tackling critical issues with innovative surveys and insights to empowering communities through storytelling, here are some milestones we’re proud to share: 📊 Civic Data & Insights: 👉🏻 We announced our big foray into civic data, combining storytelling with insights to understand and amplify citizen voices better than ever before. 👉🏻 Engaged 3,000+ parents and teens in a landmark survey on the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, shared with the Ministry of Electronics and IT. 👉🏻 Explored climate and health intersections with partners like CHRI, PCI India and Dalberg, uncovering the impact of vector-borne diseases and environmental challenges on public health. We also got together with PCI and Dalberg to launch the Youth Climate Collective to enable youth-led solutions for climate change. 👉🏻 Collaborated with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) to launch the YouthACT Framework, equipping cities with actionable climate solutions. ✍️ Empowering Voices: 👉🏻 We welcomed 25,000 new writers to the YKA citizen media community, sparking conversations that matter. 👉🏻 We published ‘Navigating Through Digital and Social Realities’, a citizen-generated book featuring 30 stories of resilience and hope - along with the Digital Empowerment Foundation. 📱 Scaling Engagement: 👉🏻 We launched Yoot, India’s first WhatsApp-based polling chatbot, gathering 45,000 poll responses and exchanging over 1,50,000 messages on issues like health, culture, and civic rights. 🌟 Building Changemakers: 👉🏻 We opened The Writing School, empowering aspiring writers to tell impactful stories, with a sold-out first batch and applications now open for 2025. Looking ahead, we’re excited about initiatives like Gully—an AI-powered neighborhood storytelling bot—and VIBE, India’s first youth active citizenship report, coming soon, in partnership with the Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. This video captures the highlights of our year and the incredible impact we’ve been able to achieve with our community and partners. Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to making 2025 even more impactful, together! More on our plans - coming soon!

Here's my 2024 LinkedIn Rewind, by Coauthor.studio: 2024: The year data became more than numbers—it became a compass for social transformation. Moving from the Click-on Kaduna Data Science Fellowship to my role at Natview Foundation for Technology Innovation, I discovered that true data science isn't just about algorithms and analysis. It's about illuminating the stories of those often invisible in traditional narratives. This year, three posts crystallized how data can be a powerful instrument of change: 1. Giving Voice to the Unregistered: Highlighting the child registration crisis "150 million children worldwide remain unregistered." This wasn't just a statistic, but a call to recognize how data can protect the most vulnerable. https://lnkd.in/e_tH-ihq 2. Challenging Mental Health Narratives: Exploring men's emotional landscapes "Let us collectively commit to creating a world where men feel safe to express their emotions without shame." Data helps us understand and dismantle harmful societal narratives. https://lnkd.in/eGpVdfnu 3. Aging and Data Inclusion: Reflecting on representation across life stages "While society rallies to protect children, there's a poignant contrast when it comes to the elderly." Our data narratives must evolve to include every human experience. https://lnkd.in/ewyVznAH Beyond posts, 2024 was about translating data into actionable insights. At Natview Foundation, I've applied geospatial analysis and data science to advance sustainable development initiatives, proving that numbers can be a bridge between understanding and action. Looking to 2025, my commitment remains unwavering: to leverage data science as a tool for evidence-based policy and social transformation, particularly across Africa. Every dataset tells a story—our job is to listen, understand, and act. #DataForGood #SustainableDevelopment #AfricaRising #LinkedInRewind2024

Nonprofits across the world are leveraging the power of AI to drive significant social change. From identifying poverty hot spots to combating climate change and spotting social injustices, AI technology is helping organizations like The Nature Conservancy and Amnesty International create targeted interventions and advocate for policy changes. Through advanced data analytics and satellite imagery, we can work towards a future where every community is empowered and protected. How are you using technology to make a difference? #AI #Sustainability #Innovation

Hey, lovelies! Before I begin my day of being fully outside (because I will be squeezing every last drop out of this summer), I wanted to share that the voting period for SXSW panels ends this Sunday, August 18th. If you haven't gotten a chance to cast your vote for my panel, "Leisure as Reparations for Black Women" (https://lnkd.in/d_HHjtXW), I invite you to do so today. In addition, I invite you to also vote for Flavio Masson's panel, "Seeking Minimum Viable Softness" (https://lnkd.in/d_SqvpSx). Anyone who amplifies Black women has my vote so let's help him get on the SXSW stage as well 💜 Also, you know your girl loves an opportunity to learn and reflect (I'll be doing a lot of that in this doctoral program; whew, chile) so it should come as no surprise that, in addition to being outside, I've also been doing some learning. This past week's learning is courtesy of Arlan Hamilton, Founder of Backstage Capital. I don't even have space to share how impressive this woman is, but a quick Google search will tell you all you need to know, including the fact that her company spends their time and resources investing in people of color, women, and LGBTQ founders. Like, she's incredible. Arlan is so incredible that she decided to create Arlan's All-Access Membership, where she spends 12 months gathering your soul and sharing millionaire trade secrets with members for a price so low it should be criminal. Also, her membership has a money back guarantee: if you do everything that she tells you to do in the membership and you don't make, at least, $100K in 12 months, she will give you a full refund on your investment in the program. I signed up for her membership without even knowing about this guarantee so like...there's really no reason to not do this...unless you don't want to make money so you can do leisurely things and send Kamala Harris some money so she can save us from ourselves. Apply using this form (and let her know I sent you in the form!) to be $100K richer this time next year: https://lnkd.in/e_VgpEfB

The GivingTuesday Data Commons provides to the social sector what the commercial sector has long benefitted from, big data to drive better decision-making, build a more resilient social sector, and accelerate equitable social innovation. They are currently conducting a new AI Readiness Survey to better grasp the current landscape and capacity for AI adoption within our sector - and they’d love to hear from YOU! Your insights will help ensure nonprofits worldwide are equipped for AI-driven progress. By participating, you’ll help to build a repository of research around nonprofits’ digital readiness, barriers to adoption, and current usage of AI. Take the Survey 📋 https://bit.ly/3Uj2Xhv This anonymous survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete and is for nonprofit organizations or informal groups that serve society, anywhere in the world. Survey responses will be collected throughout 2024. For your response to be included in the first round of reporting, please complete the survey by April 30, 2024.

📢 Today, we’re celebrating the incredible contributions of a valued member of our Advisory Council at Fundraising.AI... Meenakshi (Meena) Das, CEO of at NamasteData.org! 🙌 Meena, a first-generation immigrant, is a consultant, author, and certified life coach with a passion for data, research, and analytics. Known for blending empathy, humor, and expertise, Meena makes a significant impact on the nonprofit sector. Meena excels in comprehensive data services, offering end-to-end data collection, analysis, and equity coaching to help nonprofits harness data responsibly. Her workshops are tailored to advance equity in data collection, visualizations, and AI application, empowering organizations to move towards more human-centric data practices. As a speaker, Meena covers critical topics like data equity, inclusive data tools, DEI with data, and human-centric algorithms. Her extensive writing on these subjects provides valuable resources for nonprofits, promoting the responsible and ethical use of data and AI. Currently, Meena and Michelle Flores Vryn, CFRE, are spearheading a crucial survey on AI and Data Equity in nonprofits. This research aims to: 🔹 Benchmark Practices: Document current data and AI equity in U.S. and Canadian nonprofits. 🔹 Identify Challenges: Uncover barriers and highlight growth opportunities. 🔹 Provide Analysis: Offer comparisons to industry standards for assessing progress. Your participation is vital to this significant research project. The survey takes about 10-15 minutes and will contribute to promoting equitable and ethical practices in the nonprofit sector. 🔗 Take the Survey- https://lnkd.in/gca73Qap #NonprofitImpact #DataEquity #EthicalAI #CommunityEngagement #FundraisingAI #ResponsibleAI #BeneficialAI #Nonprofit #NonprofitTech

Brilliant. When we build democracy into AI then we can use AI to rebuild democracy. These experiments with Citizens’ Assemblies are a critical milestone on the journey to show people what’s possible. We’re moving towards a world of governance where each of us is represented by one AI agent. Native citizenship in the digital realm to claim our unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

From Numbers to Impact: Using Data Science for Global Good 🌍📊 In my technology career journey, I've leveraged data-driven insights to drive impactful decisions at work. I love to use numbers to tell an impactful story. Recently, I've been exploring how to extend these skills to philanthropic efforts, using technology to foster positive change in society. Data science isn't just about numbers and algorithms—it's a powerful tool for driving social change and promoting justice. By leveraging data, we can uncover hidden patterns, address systemic issues, and make informed decisions to create a more equitable world. Here are some inspiring data science projects that are making a difference in the realm of social justice: 1. AI Bias and Accountability: Examining biases in AI systems and advocating for accountable AI practices. 2. Healthcare Disparities: Identifying and addressing inequities in healthcare access and outcomes across different communities. 3. Education Equity: Analyzing educational data to improve resources and opportunities for underserved students. 4. Climate Justice: Utilizing environmental data to advocate for policies that protect vulnerable populations from climate change impacts. 5. Economic Empowerment: Building models to support financial inclusion and economic opportunities for marginalized groups. 6. Human Rights Monitoring: Leveraging data to document and combat human rights abuses globally. 7. Gender Equality: Analyzing workforce data to promote gender parity and support initiatives for equal pay. 8. Criminal Justice Reform: Using data to highlight disparities in sentencing and advocate for more equitable justice systems. 9. Housing and Urban Development: Applying data to ensure fair housing practices and improve urban living conditions. 10. Public Health: Tracking and addressing social determinants of health to improve outcomes for disadvantaged communities. These projects showcase the transformative potential of data science in the fight for social justice. If you're working on or know of any impactful data science initiatives, share them in the comments! Let's continue to harness the power of data for positive change. 💪📈 #DataScience #SocialJustice #TechForGood #Equity #Inclusion #BigData #MachineLearning #CommunityImpact #Innovation

In today's extractive data economy, people generate immense amounts of data on a daily basis. This data is often sold by brokers, leveraged for ad targeting, and used to train large language models, like ChatGPT. All of this happens without the knowledge, let alone benefit, of the individuals or communities the data originates from. This needs to change. That's why we recently called on foundations and donors to address these disparities by promoting responsible data practices. Funders have the opportunity to ensure the data their grantees collect accurately represents the communities they serve and is made accessible to them. As our Senior Technology Fellow Ryan Merkley explains in a new op-ed for The Chronicle of Philanthropy, philanthropy has the power to drive significant change. He has seen this first-hand. While Ryan was CEO of Creative Commons, the organization asked funders to modify their grant agreements to require that the research they supported was published under terms of open access. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Knight Foundation, and other major foundations joined the movement, with the federal goverment following suit. Get more insights by reading the full op-ed, and join us in making data work for everyone: https://lnkd.in/emfE8bh6 #DataEconomy #DataEthics #Philanthropy #OpenAccess

🌟 Yorkshire Data and Digital Conference 2024 🌟 I had the pleasure of attending the Yorkshire Post Data and Digital Conference 2024 last week on behalf of Shoosmiths. It was packed with so many interesting topics – Women in Tech, Data Culture, AI (of course), and Sustainability. Here are some of my key takeaways: 1. Empowering Women in Tech: An inspiring panel event with Cheryl Bosi, Jess Sewter and Yasmin De Nardo - all of which work hard to promote gender diversity in the tech industry and help break down barriers for women that are embarking on careers in tech and data. Discussions highlighted the importance of creating pathways for women in the tech workforce and the ongoing diversity challenges within the industry, emphasising the need for continued efforts to promote inclusion. 🚀 2. Data Culture is the Cornerstone: An enjoyable breakout session chaired by Sue Daley, discussing the importance of data culture when embarking on AI projects. Valuable industry insights from Peter Laflin, Ayesha Hussain, Adam Foskett, and Leena Pankhania. A key takeaway was to ensure clarity on the problem you are trying to solve, rather than trying to align existing data with the AI solution. The panel also discussed the phrase “data is like the new oil” – it is valuable, but it needs to be refined to be useful, so ‘data governance’ throughout the organisation is key.💡 3. Sustainability through Technology: Sustainability is becoming an increasing consideration when it comes to innovation and technology. It shouldn’t be a box ticking exercise; we need to be committed to safeguarding our future. Innovation can also help build a more sustainable future and drive environmental change. 🌍 Feeling inspired and grateful to all speakers and panellists, as well as Helen Lambert, techUK and Flutter for organising and hosting such a great event. 👏 #YorkshireDataConf #WomenInTech #AI #DataGovernance #Sustainability #Innovation