How can those without internet access come together to create change?

Grades 6 – 8

Though it may be difficult to imagine living without Wi-Fi, just
under half of the world’s population lives without any access to the
Internet.1
This lack of connectivity not only affects citizens’ access to
communication, education, and healthcare—but it also dramatically
impacts individuals’ ability to take a stand, organize activism, and
create change. In this lesson, students will learn more about this
problem in alignment with a series of video clips featuring
Amandla.mobi, a community activism organization that empowers
citizens to use their cell phones to organize to make a difference.
To explore this problem and gain empathy, students will research
the role the Internet plays in global campaigns, the effects of the
digital divide, and possible alternatives to the Internet. Students will
then collaborate and use design thinking to tackle the problem as
they consider how technology could be used to organize change
and positively impact those affected. The lesson will culminate as
students brainstorm how to inspire their own community members to
find their voice and create change. They will create a brief plan that
outlines how they could spearhead this change and take action in
their community.