Digital Didi Changing Mindsets, Practices and Narratives
In an effort to share DigiKala updates and milestones with a wider global audience, the project team, including trainers and coordinators, will soon be launching a three-month social media campaign in an effort to reach out to over 20,000 people on a daily basis. This will be achieved through photo stories, stories of impact, quotes from beneficiaties, Skype conversations and sharing of new designs from the handloom clusters. DEF’s video team has also produced a short film to highlight the efforts being carried out through the project, which is a collaboration of DEF and Microsoft.
DEF team member Ravi Guria recently traveled to Nuapatna and Barpali in Odisha to produce an impact film to showcase the transformation that is underway in the two handloom clusters. Both these clusters are known for their ikat weaving, and there are particular castes and communities that are involved in this trade. For example, the Meher community in Barpali and the Bhulia community in Nuapatna.
In the last one year, Digikala Weavers Resource Centres in Nuapatna and Barpali have managed to break the caste monopoly and are teaching tye-and-dye to anyone keen on learning, irrespective of their caste, community, religion or gender.
Meanwhile, efforts will also be made soon to ensure that DigiKala products are sold at exhibitions, fairs and events across the country to boost sales and improve livelihood of the weavers. DEF’s own platforms — such as Manthan Awards, mBillionth Awards, eNGO Challenge, Social Media for Empowerment — will also be used for this purpose.
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