Community Networks Uniting Indigenous Communities in Ziro Valley

By Digital Empowerment Foundation

Published on: July 24, 2023

Students in Ziro Valley are engaging with experts and gaining exposure on various sustainable development initiatives from across the globe in an attempt to create a more just and inclusive society.

While there is a nation-wide movement towards digital connectivity and the country has witnessed numerous government-led initiatives to achieve digital connectivity, there are still regions that continue to face no access or inadequate access to digital services. 

Ziro block was one such region in Arunachal. After the introduction of community networks to connect the Apatani Tribe of Ziro, the citizens have gained access to digital education, services and community connections with the rest of the world. With the support of Internet Society, a variety of activities are held in Ziro Valley to ensure that the community members are included in the digital narrative. One such activity is the ‘DEF Sustainability Hour Sessions’, hosted weekly to promote the participation of students in sustainable development initiatives. The sessions focus on educating the students about the pillars of sustainability: economic viability, environmental protection and social equity. Sessions hosted in July received positive response because the students learnt about WASH practices, climate change, individual sustainable practices that can fight global warming and understanding environmental action.

The students participated in a drawing competition on the topic ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ on the occasion of World Environment Day. The session witnessed amazing participation and honed an environment where students ideated, created solutions, indulged in group discussions to bring systemic change in their community to fight environmental degradation. 

DEF’s initiatives in Ziro Valley is enabling the local community to create content in indigenous languages, enabling local community members to connect to the global audience and inculcate climate action in their local community exchange narrative.