MEGAPHONE 2024: From Reactive to Ready
By Maja Durlik, Senior Program Manager, TechSoup, and Slava Melnyk, Senior Community Manager, TechSoup
In a world grappling with multiple interconnected crises, civil society organizations (CSOs) and activists are faced with the challenge of having to constantly seek new approaches to their work and strategies to champion their causes. This year’s MEGAPHONE 2024, held in Bratislava, Slovakia, embraced the theme “From Reactive to Ready: Activism in Times of Polycrisis,” supporting participants in a shift from “putting out fires” to being prepared for whatever is coming their way.
MEGAPHONE and the Digital Activism Program
MEGAPHONE is an annual event that brings together around 100 activists from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Central Asia, and the Caucasus, representing around 26 countries. The event’s focus shifts each year to address the most pressing issues faced by CSOs and activists in the region, while maintaining its core goal of equipping participants with relevant skills and knowledge. MEGAPHONE is part of the Digital Activism Program (DAP) carried out by TechSoup Global Network and partners in the CEE region. The program aims to increase CSOs’ understanding of disinformation threats, strengthen their capacity to counter it, stay resilient, and build connections within civil society.
In 2024, MEGAPHONE expanded its reach with the first event organized by Makaia in Latin America, MEGÁFONO, held in September in Medellin, Colombia.
A Sense of Community in Challenging Times
MEGAPHONE 2024 in Bratislava gathered 113 participants from 27 countries, featuring 21 workshops, tech tool demos, and interactive sessions facilitated by 23 experts with the support of an education coach. The event was funded by Google.org and co-funded by the European Commission (CERV Program), with Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia as the local partner organization.
What participants value the most is that it provides them with knowledge, skills, inspiration, and a sense of community. As one remarked, “Given the challenging times CSOs operate in, what’s key is a sense of hope and energy, taken from the fact of belonging to a wider supportive community. And providing that for the participants is one of MEGAPHONE’s main goals and biggest successes.”
What We Learned
Countering Disinformation
One of the most significant topics discussed at MEGAPHONE 2024 was the strategies CSOs can employ to counter disinformation. Workshops focused on refuting attacks, exploring the challenges faced by CSOs in the region, and discovering applicable solutions. Participants learned about the importance of digital resilience and the need for strategies to combat the spread of false information.
A participant shared, “I learned that in the fight against disinformation, communication, understanding emotions, and active listening play an incredibly significant role. While tools, knowledge, and confidence are essential components, they alone are not enough to address the complexities of this challenge.”
Resilience and Communications
Another critical issue addressed was the need for proactive communication and resilience of civil society organizations. Workshops covered successful mobilization tactics, depolarization, engaging men in civic spaces, active listening, and crisis communication. These sessions aimed to equip participants with the skills to foster unity and resilience within their communities.
One attendee noted, “I realized that there is room for everyone in MEGAPHONE, even for small NGOs with apparently no means and/or few resources. I was also empowered with knowledge and courage. Thank you so, so much!”
AI and Tech Tools
The integration of AI and tech tools in activism was another major focus of this year’s edition of MEGAPHONE. Participants explored content production, operations, creating their own GPTs, using existing tools for social media listening, and protecting their organizations from troll attacks. These sessions highlighted the potential of technology to enhance the effectiveness of digital activism.
A participant reflected, “I gained extra motivation to use AI tools and accept them in daily work and to have a protocol on using it.”
The Power of Collective Action
MEGAPHONE 2024 was a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of being prepared in the face of multiple crises. By equipping activists and CSOs with the tools, knowledge, and attitude they need, the event continues to foster a resilient and connected community of digital activists ready to tackle the challenges of our time. It provides inspiration, and most importantly, hope and a sense of “not being in it alone” as one of the participants put it: “There are so many passionate people that care about making the world a better place, it’s inspiring and really uplifting.”
As we look forward to future editions of MEGAPHONE, follow Hive Mind channels to learn more about projects created by MEGAPHONE participants (dedicated grants) and other useful content and educational materials related to building resilience, countering disinformation, and effective communication for activists.
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AI disclaimer: This article was written with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot, based on a detailed brief developed by the authors.
