Deadline: July 15, 2023
Applications are open for the Internet Shutdowns Activism Fellowship 2023. The Advocacy Assembly Shutdowns Activism Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to combat internet shutdowns head-on. By equipping individuals with the necessary tools, knowledge, and financial support, this program enables participants to become change-makers in their communities. Join the fight against internet shutdowns and be a catalyst for positive change.
The program will feature international experts and provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and build multi-stakeholder coalitions and responsive campaigns to prepare for and respond to internet shutdowns. The program will cover a variety of topics, including how to technically measure internet shutdowns, how to circumvent internet shutdowns using common tools and strategies, how to build an internet shutdown advocacy campaign, how to engage with the private sector, and when to use strategic litigation when shutdowns violate the law.
The course is designed to be largely asynchronous, with you able to watch course material, engage in discussion and build community with other fellows, and work with expert mentors. After 6 weeks of the program, you will be asked to design an internet shutdown advocacy action plan and you will be provided funds to conduct an activity based on the skills you’ve learned through the fellowship and aligned with your action plan.
Program Outcomes
- Upon completion of the program, fellows will have the opportunity to access funds to implement activities outlined in their action plans. This financial support could enable them to organize trainings for their communities, design awareness campaigns, develop legal strategies, localize circumvention tool resources, or collaborate with journalists to report on internet shutdowns. By empowering fellows to translate knowledge into tangible actions, the program aims to foster real change and resilience in the face of internet shutdowns.
Eligibility
- No prior knowledge about internet shutdowns is necessary, but you should have some understanding of how your community might be harmed by internet shutdowns and what you think you can contribute when it comes to fighting back against censorship and shutdowns.
- You must be able to commit ~2.5 hours a week to the program from August until October, 2023. With much of the program occurring asynchronously, you will be able to schedule this time around your other commitments, but you will need to do the work! You should also be able to commit time from the end of the course through February, 2024 to implement a targeted internet shutdown advocacy activity such as a training, a research project, or a coalition-building exercise.
- You must have regular access to a computer and internet in order to participate in the course.
- The core course materials will be available in Spanish, French, Arabic, Farsi, Swahili, Portuguese, and English but discussion for the course will be conducted in English, so you should have some ability to write & speak in English.
- You should be excited about the idea of learning new advocacy skills & putting them into practice!
Application
Applications deadline is July 15, 2023, but applications will be accepted on a rolling basis so they encourage application submissions before this deadline.
For more information, visit Internet Shutdowns Activism Fellowship.
