Civil society activists need smart tools and solutions to tell their stories in a persuasive way. These tools need to be easily adaptable and effective, so that civil society organizations (CSOs) can focus on what they do best –working with communities.
TechSoup Europe and its Tech4Stories partners work on developing, piloting, locally implementing and scaling comprehensive education programs for CSOs with a goal to enable them to:
- Create and implement effective social campaign strategies on issues relevant for local communities and offer counter-narratives in mainstream media spaces;
- Learn how to navigate social media for research and verification of information In order to get their voice heard outside of social media echo chambers;
- Learn how to fight against defamation effectively;
- Become efficient educators to create a multiplier effect in their communities.
Activities
Social Campaign Implementation: we will crowd-source ideas for the best campaign ideas in two pilot countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania) through a public online challenge. The chosen ideas will later be subject to intensive work with campaign experts to finalize and implement the campaigns.
Education Program
Blended training modules on persuasive storytelling and combating propaganda organized for trainers with high scaling and replicating capacity in up to four countries.
Community Building
MEGAPHONE – international camp on information literacy in Romania (November 13 -15), which will bring together around 100 social activists, NGOs, journalists, hackers, designers, content specialists, and data analysts from across Central and Eastern Europe. This tried and tested methodology ensures collaboration, sharing, peer learning, synergizing efforts, networking, community building, sharing strategies and diversifying voices to promote solidarity and openness, and to cultivate an atmosphere of trust and support.

Photo: J.Agovic, Participants of a persuasive storytelling training in Sarajevo, March 2018
This participant-driven approach is a pivotal effort to build sustainable and lasting ties which go beyond project timelines.