Inclusive Open Source Design for Underserved Communities

Having Experienced The Challenges Of Accessing Technology Myself, While Also Benefiting From What Open Source Makes Possible, And Today Working With Children, Young People, Schools, Families And Communities Who Have Limited Access To Technology And Limited Digital Literacy. I Understand All Sides Of The Story. These Realities Leave Me Asking: #OpenSource May Be Open To Everyone. But Are We Designing For Everyone? It Was A Privilege To Bring These Realities To The Fore At The UN Open Source Community Day 2026 During #UNOpenSourceWeek2026, In My Submission, "Who Is Left Out? Designing Open Source For Real-World Digital Realities In Underserved Communities." Thanks To The United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology And #UNOpenSourceWeek Team For Creating Space For These Important Conversations. Tinuade Oguntuyi , PMP® Angeline Corvaglia Lydia Zagorova Internet Safe Kids Africa

🌍 We’re excited - and very proud to be part of the next chapter of ENTR! Voice4You, with our Mobile Stories Newsroom tool and methodology, has been invited to be part of ENTR Next Generation (ENTR-NG) — the next phase of ENTR, the European social media project for young audiences that has been connecting young Europeans since 2021. As part of ENTR-NG, we’ll contribute our experience of working with young people and journalism through Mobile Stories, using hands-on workshops and our newsroom methodology to help young people explore journalistic practices, verify sources and create content responsibly. The next phase of ENTR builds on five years of work while putting a stronger focus on media literacy, disinformation awareness, information integrity and the role of creators and influencers in how young people access and engage with information. https://entr.net/en/ Together with partners from 10 EU countries, we’ll work to: ✅ strengthen media and information literacy ✅ develop critical thinking around online information ✅ support responsible content creation ✅ give young people an active role in how information is created, assessed and shared We’re particularly happy to contribute to a project that puts young people at the centre — not only as audiences, but as active participants in the information ecosystem. We’re looking forward to bringing the Mobile Stories approach into this next chapter of ENTR and to learning from partners and young people across Europe. 🚀 The ENTR-NG consortium consists of:  Deutsche Welle elle (Germany, coordinator)  Bonn Institute ute (Germany)  France Médias Monde dias Monde (France)  RFI Romania (Romania)  Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (Portugal)  Ringier Axel Springer Polska (Poland)  Group 4 Media Freedom and Democracy / G4Media (Romania)  Are We Europe (Netherlands)  Dir.bg (Bulgaria)  Central Médiacsoport (Hungary)  Debunk EU (Lithuania)  Voice4You (Sweden)  NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands) #ENTR #ENTRNextGeneration #Voice4You #MobileStories #MobileStoriesNewsroom #MediaLiteracy #Youth #Journalism #InformationIntegrity

FreeMyWheels goes global! Making accessibility a universal right, one language at a time. ♿🗺️ I'm thrilled to announce that FreeMyWheels — my open-source, community-driven accessibility map — is now fully internationalized and available in 4 languages: English, Greek, Spanish, and Italian! When I built FreeMyWheels, my goal was simple: to help people with mobility impairments easily navigate their cities, find accessible routes, entrances, and facilities, and share reliable crowdsourced data without barriers. But accessibility shouldn't have borders. By introducing multi-language support, I'm opening the door for a broader, cross-border community to contribute, share insights, and make urban navigation truly inclusive for everyone, everywhere. Check it out & join the community: Explore the map: www.freemywheels.com Follow on Facebook: https://lnkd.in/d7KDnBeJ Follow on Instagram: https://lnkd.in/dvx3-PzM #Accessibility #OpenSource #WebDevelopment #NextJS #Inclusion #SocialImpact #TechForGood #GlobalAccessibility

🌍 We’re excited - and very proud to be part of the next chapter of ENTR! Voice4You, with our Mobile Stories Newsroom tool and methodology, has been invited to be part of ENTR Next Generation (ENTR-NG) — the next phase of ENTR, the European social media project for young audiences that has been connecting young Europeans since 2021. As part of ENTR-NG, we’ll contribute our experience of working with young people and journalism through Mobile Stories, using hands-on workshops and our newsroom methodology to help young people explore journalistic practices, verify sources and create content responsibly. The next phase of ENTR builds on five years of work while putting a stronger focus on media literacy, disinformation awareness, information integrity and the role of creators and influencers in how young people access and engage with information. https://entr.net/en/ Together with partners from 10 EU countries, we’ll work to: ✅ strengthen media and information literacy ✅ develop critical thinking around online information ✅ support responsible content creation ✅ give young people an active role in how information is created, assessed and shared We’re particularly happy to contribute to a project that puts young people at the centre — not only as audiences, but as active participants in the information ecosystem. We’re looking forward to bringing the Mobile Stories approach into this next chapter of ENTR and to learning from partners and young people across Europe. 🚀 The ENTR-NG consortium consists of:  Deutsche Welle elle (Germany, coordinator)  Bonn Institute ute (Germany)  France Médias Monde dias Monde (France)  RFI Romania (Romania)  Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (Portugal)  Ringier Axel Springer Polska (Poland)  Group 4 Media Freedom and Democracy / G4Media (Romania)  Are We Europe (Netherlands)  Dir.bg (Bulgaria)  Central Médiacsoport (Hungary)  Debunk EU (Lithuania)  Voice4You (Sweden)  NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands)  #ENTR #ENTRNextGeneration #Voice4You #MobileStories #MobileStoriesNewsroom #MediaLiteracy #Youth #Journalism #InformationIntegrity

Digital Accessibility in Africa 🌍 Recently, I came across a hackathon by the Nigerian Communications Commission, seeking young innovators to build things like accessible USSD, AI-powered sign-language tools, image-to-voice navigation, and inclusive employment platforms. Upon seeing that, I quickly realized something important; that the accessibility conversation in Africa is already happening. This is a good and encouraging move by the NCC. Prior to this time, I've been wondering whether accessibility will become something we intentionally build into the digital products and services we create, or something we continue to keep only at the surface level. Working in digital accessibility, I’ve seen how accessibility can touch every part of a product: the design, the code, the content, the user experience, and even the decisions made before a product is built. I’m genuinely interested in seeing accessibility become more deeply integrated into the laws, policies, standards, and practices that shape technology across Africa. I want to see accessibility become part of how we design, develop, regulate, and evaluate technology across the continent. Not just accessibility as a compliance exercise, or a surface level discourse; but accessibility as a fundamental part of building digital products that work for the people who use them. There is a lot of innovation happening across Africa. I want to be part of making sure that innovation is accessible by design.

📢 Digital Rights & Resilience Bootcamp for Visually Impaired Youth. In today’s technology-driven world, digital rights, safe online participation, and digital skills are essential for every citizen. To strengthen the skills, leadership, and participation of visually impaired youth, a 3-day Digital Rights & Resilience Bootcamp was organized under the “Visually Impaired Youth-Led Digital Rights and Accountability for Inclusive Democracy” project. The bootcamp featured: ➤ Interactive training ➤ Knowledge sharing ➤ Peer learning ➤ Practical experience 📅 Date: 16–18 July 2026 📍 Venue: Setu Inn, H# 749, R# 8, Adabar, Dhaka-1207 #SongjogFoundation #DigitalRights #InclusiveDemocracy #DigitalAccessibility #VisuallyImpaired #YouthLeadership #YouthEmpowerment #DigitalDemocracy #AccountabilityLab #DDISouthAsia #Bangladesh

International Day of Sign Languages | September 23 Knowledge becomes truly impactful when it is accessible to everyone. Today, PEERTECHZ Publications joins the global community in recognizing the importance of sign languages, accessibility, inclusion, and equal access to scientific and healthcare information. From research and education to healthcare communication, creating accessible pathways helps ensure that knowledge reaches diverse communities and supports a more inclusive world. Science for everyone. Knowledge without barriers. #InternationalDayOfSignLanguages #SignLanguage #Accessibility #Inclusion #ScientificCommunication #HealthcareAccess #HealthEquity #DeafAwareness #OpenAccess #ScientificPublishing #Peertechz #PeertechzPublications

For lots of people across the UK , it is already difficult enough to navigate some government services online. For people just arriving in the UK - considering language barriers and the significant stress and cognitive load associated with arriving in an unfamiliar country under stressful conditions - navigating digital systems to access basic services can feel like an unsurmountable challenge. In March 2026, a report by the London Refugee Advocacy Forum found the risks brought by the digital transition 'disproportionately affects refugees who lack access to smartphones or face difficulties with digital literacy'. While digital services absolutely have the potential to make some people's lives easier, it is imperative that we consider different kinds of users with varying levels of digital familiarity and language fluency when creating systems that can have such a profound impact on the lives of people who use them. https://lnkd.in/eWguUcmX

Lauren Kahn & the team are representing PD at UN Digital Cooperation Day 2026 in New York, part of UNGA81. Today’s event asks how every country gets a say in shaping AI's future. Which is timely as we prepare to launch our new book, Digital Sovereignty: The Power to Decide. Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eqJhvn_3

An internet connection can open a door, but meaningful digital inclusion is about what happens once people walk through it. Across the projects we support, we’ve seen connectivity become access to education, a way to reach essential services, a tool for earning a living, a space to learn new skills, and a way for communities to connect and build opportunities on their own terms. From rural schools in Mexico to community networks in Kenya, digital learning centers in Nigeria and households in the Netherlands, each project looks different. But the lesson is shared: connectivity has the greatest impact when it is affordable, useful, safe, and supported by the skills and confidence people need to make it work for them. In our latest blog, we bring together some of these stories and reflect on what meaningful connectivity can look like in practice. Read the blog on our website: https://lnkd.in/eaEr5bjz