Testimonials
I would like to express deep appreciation to IT for Change for co-convening the Roots of Resilience conference with the Platform Cooperativism Consortium. The event thoughtfully explored the crucial role of platform cooperatives in promoting feminist futures, climate justice, and sustainable agriculture. The International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) had the privilege of participating in the conference, and we were highly impressed by the seamless organization — from the selection of venue and speakers to the engaging discussions. Much credit goes to IT for Change for ensuring the conference embodied values of collaboration, cooperation, and solidarity, making it a truly impactful and meaningful gathering.
Balu Iyer
Regional Director, ICA-AP
Collaborating with IT for Change on the ‘Towards Substantive Equality in Artificial Intelligence: Transformative AI Policy for Gender Equality and Diversity’ report for the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) has been an exceptional experience. They are rigorous, thoughtful, and deeply committed to strengthening the digital rights ecosystem from a feminist and anti-colonial perspective. In every project, they leave a distinct mark, demonstrating a deep understanding of digital and social justice landscapes. Their work embodies a genuine dedication to advancing transformative policies for a just digital society. Their impact and legacy in shaping a digital world for the social good, with a profound sensitivity to planetary justice are truly remarkable. It has been an honor to collaborate with them and witness their positive impact on the ecosystem, as they continue to challenge dominant narratives and advocate for meaningful change.
Paola Ricaurte
Expert, GPAI; Co-Founder, Tierra Común Network
In an increasingly digitized global order, at a time when overlapping crises unfold on an unprecedented scale with profound consequences for humanity, democratic systems, collective well-being, and the planet, the committed work and rigorous, incisive research of IT for Change is more necessary than ever. Their analytical and advocacy contributions in the field of governance of the internet and other digital technologies are situated at the intersection of democratic governance frameworks and social justice, grounded in a gender perspective. To that extent, their work is a beacon for efforts to challenge the status quo, reverse extreme structural inequality, strengthen the enjoyment of human rights online and offline, mitigate environmental harms, and address the growing political and economic interests that undermine the common good.
Valeria Betancourt
Advocacy Engagement Manager, Association for Progressive Communications
As digital infrastructures permeate our world, giving rise to new forms of inequality and deepening existing ones, it is crucial to retain a critical perspective that guides research and advocacy. IT for Change has, for long, trained a keen eye on how internet governance needs to be imagined so as to harness the potential of the digital for the greater common good. Informed by a commitment to feminist values, their continuing leadership in the area of platform cooperativism through the Roots of Resilience conference has helped us at FemLab think through some ways in which we can creatively resist and organize against the totalizing forces of a commercial internet.
Usha Raman
Professor, Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad; Founder, FemLab
IT for Change is a great partner for the Transnational Institute, and for the Fair Green and Global Alliance, to which we both belong. Their monthly newsletter, DataSyn, is a gem. It is our ‘go to’ place to really understand what is going on in the area of Big Tech, including in key policymaking spaces. Their critical analysis, combined with a very collaborative approach, as well as their key proposals for a people’s tech are invaluable to us. Our cooperation with them helps us to build our own capacity to understand the implications of digitalization for many social movements with which we work. And last but not least, they are also great people to work with.
Pietje Vervest
Programs Coordinator, Transnational Institute
In collaboration with Prakriye (IT for Change’s field team), we expanded our Girl Icon Project, which previously focused solely on North Karnataka. Prakriye’s strategic approach allowed us to successfully recruit 49 adolescent girls from vulnerable communities in Mysuru. Their innovative technology-mediated gender training has empowered these adolescent girls to better understand gender concepts, identify the challenges they face, and develop potential solutions.
Priya Digvijay
Program Coordinator, Milan Foundation-Hubli
Prakriye's (IT for Change’s field team) gender training programs, which were delivered to both adolescent boys and girls, resulted in significant positive changes among the participants. We found that boys began taking responsibility for household chores, while girls gained the confidence to participate actively in co-curricular activities at school. We observed a notable shift in our students' attitudes towards equality, as the training fostered gender-sensitive actions at an early age.
Madesh
Language Teacher, Government High School, Hebbalaguppe, Karnataka, India
In partnership with information centers run by Prakriye (IT for Change’s field team), we successfully raised awareness among vulnerable communities about essential banking services, including opening bank accounts, seeding Aadhaar and phone numbers, processing e-KYC, and other functions necessary to access scheme benefits, pensions, and subsidies. While Common Service Centers are also present in the area, Prakriye’s centers offer timely and detailed information to the appropriate beneficiaries and effectively motivate them to take advantage of these benefits.
Prajwal
Bank Mithra, Mullur Cluster, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
The staff at information centers run by Prakriye (IT for Change’s field team) regularly visit us to source new information. We have observed that they share timely updates with eligible beneficiaries, resulting in an increasing number of farmers approaching us for services based on referrals from them. Our collaboration with Prakriye has significantly enhanced our outreach, allowing us to connect with a larger number of farmers in a short period of time.
Kavyashree
Assistant Technology Manager, Raitha Samparka Kendra, Gavadagere, Karnataka, India
For over a decade, we have collaborated with IT for Change to implement the 'Technology Integrated Learning Program' for our student-teachers, as part of our B.Ed course. IT for Change’s work has equipped student-teachers to access Open Educational Resources from the internet and create resources for their subject teaching, using Free and Open Source Software. The program not only equips them to meaningfully integrate technology into their teaching practice but also fosters critical reflection on the broader societal impact of digital technologies, which is the need of the hour.
Dr. P T Meena
Principal, Vijaya Teachers College, Bengaluru, India
The writing workshop conducted by IT for Change enabled our teachers to write about their classroom experiences in academic papers, which we have published in a volume titled, 'Enabling English Language Acquisition: Tales from Thrissur.' The professional expertise of their team was evident in their guidance and consistent support, which not only helped our teachers improve their writing and technology skills but also deepened their understanding of effective teaching strategies, greatly contributing to their professional growth. I am proud of this collaboration and look forward to continuing this productive partnership.
Dr. Vinija N S
Chief Tutor, District Centre for English, Thrissur, Kerala, India