How to Become a Digital Humanitarian?
With the rise of Digital Humanitarianism, people are no longer restricted to donating money or showing up in person in order to support response and relief efforts. They can support in new digital ways. From wherever they have internet access, people help filter important tweets and imagery, help identify individuals in need and connect them with appropriate resources, or develop new technologies to support response operations. During Typhoon Haiyan, MicroMappers called on the public and help filter out the thousands of irrelevant tweets and images. Check out this great video by Paul Conneally on Digital Humanitarianism:
What I like about these new digital opportunities are that they range in skill from novice to expert and in many cases training is provided. But I wonder how many people outside of industry really know about ways they can contribute from the comfort of their own home? Or that they only need limited technology skills to support a crisis half way around the world?
If you have a chance check out Patrick Meier's new book that chronicals the power of digital humanitarians.