Bendjedid Rachad Sanoussi is a telecom engineer. He has worked as a laboratory technician at Phoran (Photonics and Digital Broadcasting) at the University of Abomey-Calavi, where he devoted himself to teaching and facilitating practical work for students in telecommunications engineering. These experiences exposed him to the professional world and especially to academia for several years. Rachad offers technical support to the Digital Grassroots team.
Digital Rights Monopoly
– Gray Area Festival Workshop
Digital Rights Monopoly is a simulation game of monopoly that engages players to reflect on the digital ecosystem, co-created through the lived experiences and expertise of the Digital Grassroots global youth community. The workshop offers an immersive exploration into digital rights and internet governance, focusing on the experiences of marginalised youth from the global south.
Through interactive role-play activities and a unique board game experience, participants will be exposed to the intricate web of digital experiences spanning the globe. This session is designed to enhance awareness, understanding, and advocacy around digital inclusivity and rights in our increasingly digitised world.
This workshop is part of the Gray Area Festival 2023: Plural Prototypes and the C/Change Initiative.
Marking Gray Area’s 15th anniversary, this year’s Gray Area Festival highlights in-progress cultural experiments from our Creative Research and Development Labs, Cultural Incubator, and Education programs in collaboration with community and industry partners.
C/Change is a joint initiative by Goethe-Institut San Francisco and Gray Area, exploring ways emerging technologies can shape and support digital cultural exchange.
Course Logistics
Dates
Friday October 20, 2023
Location
Gray Area
2665 Mission Street
San Francisco
Time
10am – 11:30am
Cost
$10 for a 2hr hands-on workshop
We also offer Diversity Scholarships, find out more and apply here.
Experience level: Beginner
Course Requirements:
No prerequisites or prior knowledge is necessary. The workshop is structured to be inclusive and informative for all attendees, irrespective of their familiarity with digital rights or internet governance. Attendees should come with a readiness to engage actively in discussions and role-playing exercises. All essential materials, including board game sets, will be provided on-site. There is no need for specific software installations or special equipment.
Course Outline
The workshop will include role play and moving about with the aim of creative immersive learning, especially with a focus on social justice in digital issues.
- Introductions : Significance of Workshop Theme and Overview of Board Game’s Context,
- Activity shedding light on varied digital challenges
- Group Reflection + Discussion
- Hands-on gameplay for practical insights into digital rights scenarios
- Concluding Remarks and Debrief
Please read the complete Workshop design here.
Education Goals
- To immerse participants in a spectrum of digital narratives, giving prominence to those from underserved regions.
- To equip attendees with insights into the intricacies of internet governance and the challenges of digital rights.
- To inspire a proactive stance among participants in championing digital equality and representation.
- To provide a tangible experience centered around the workshop’s board game, highlighting its relevance to the broader digital landscape.
Technologies
The workshop employs a simulation board game that replicates real-life digital challenges and rights scenarios i.e. Digital Rights Monopoly game.
About the Project
Digital Rights Monopoly
The Digital Rights Monopoly game shifts the power to youth who have been disenfranchised and face obstacles to participate in the digital ecosystem; it creates a pathway for the communities with restricted digital connectivity or low representation in global internet policy development processes to highlight digital inclusion challenges and solutions in their context. The simulation will be an interactive way for newcomers to the digital rights and internet governance space to shape their digital future with autonomy.
