Awesome, free election tools

South Africa has been dubbed the protest capital of the world (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_in_South_Africa), with armed insurrections across the nation on a daily basis as people become increasingly frustrated with broken promises, corruption and poor service delivery. But what if there is another way for citizens to hold government to account and get their voices heard?

The Hacks/Hackers chapters (https://www.facebook.com/HacksHackersAfrica) in Cape Town and Johannesburg are hosting meetups this Friday, 11 April, to showcase simple tools and data sources that empower citizens, activists & civic watchdogs, plus organisations like the media to hold those in power to account.

Indigo Trust (http://indigotrust.org.uk/)’s Loren Treisman will showcase some of the local projects they’ve already supported, like the new People’s Assembly (http://www.pa.org.za/) portal, and will also speak about how her organisation can support similar projects in future. Code for South Africa (http://www.code4sa.org/)’s Adi Eyal will showcase some of the political API “building blocks” that his team have built to turbocharge other people’s projects, such as Mail & Guardian’s Know Your Hood (http://mg.co.za/page/know-your-hood) gadget.

Some of the things you can already do with data, for free, with data from the People’s Assembly and politica APIs is track your MP’s performance in Parliament, see a register of their interests, find out what committees they’re involved in and what contributions they’re making to debates. You can even follow every word being said in parliament, track MPs responses to questions, locate their local constituency office and find out how to engage in campaigns. The Electoral Commission has also released a treasure trove of data that can be used to ask important questions like: in which areas will the election results be a close call between 2 parties? Which parties really take gender equality seriously? Is there a difference in voting patterns between the old and young?

But data on its own isn’t enough. We need people like YOU to turn these rich sources of data into news stories, tools and products which help inform the public and empower citizens to hold politicians to account. We also need civil society to mobilise communities and build campaigns to make change happen.

Both Indigo Trust and the African Media Initiative offer small grants (up to R200,000) for interesting ideas to make data come alive and spark real change in society. Come to the meetups to hear how to be part of the change you want to see.

The Johannesburg meetup will take place at Jozihub (http://jozihub.org/), at 44 Stanley, at 6.30pm on Friday, 11 April 2014. Hacks/Hackers will provide a choice of pizzas along with soft drinks and beers.

The Cape Town meetup will take place at Codebridge (http://www.codebridge.co.za/), at 6.30pm on Friday night, 11 April 2014. Hacks/Hackers will provide pizzas and beer / wine / softdrinks.

RSVP as soon as possible to secure a seat, by emailing Siya Africa ( siyafrica@gmail.com ) for Jozi, and Nqobile Buthelezi-Sibisi ( nsibisi@africanmediainitiative.org ) for Cape Town.

This event is co-hosted by Code for South Africa (http://www.code4sa.org/), Hacks/Hackers (https://www.facebook.com/HacksHackersAfrica), the Indigo Trust (http://indigotrust.org.uk/) and the African Media Initiative (http://www.africanmediainitiative.org/).

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The Indigo Trust (IT) is an independent grant-making foundation which funds technology driven projects which bring about social change in Africa, with a special focus on transparency, innovation and citizen empowerment. It believes that change is most effectively stimulated through well devised programmes, including various stakeholders (civil society, community activists, press, techies, government etc).

The African Media Initiative (AMI) is the continent’s largest umbrella association of media owners / operators. It runs the continent’s largest digital innovation programme targeting hacktivists and journalists, with the $1m/year African News Challenge, $1m/year African Story Challenge, and various other funds supporting everything from camera drone projects, to the continent’s largest data liberation and open data initiatives through Code for Africa.

IT and AMI are working together to kickstart digital activism in South Africa. We welcome proposals from groups working together to utilise data to stimulate community activism and create social change through campaigns, advocacy and other well devised programmes. Speak to each other, share ideas and establish partnerships. We’d love to help turn your ideas into viable programmes.