A new bottom-up architecture for development - Case studies in community informatics

At IT for Change (ITfC), we focus on a grounded analysis and exploration of the possibilities that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) offer for development interventions, especially in the areas of governance, gender and education. We have endeavoured to demystify technology, de-centre expertise, develop a critical awareness of the politics of techno-pedagogy, and promote collective ownership of  media and information processes at the community level. In this note we discuss learnings rooted in our experience on developing an appropriate ethos for an effective community informatics practice. We focus specifically on three of our projects: Mahiti Manthana, Kishori Chitrapata and Teachers' Communities of Learning.