New Matchbox project
We’re excited to welcome Oír Más as one of our new Matchbox partners. Oír Más is a radio collective dedicated to amplifying the voices of diverse communities through radio experimentation. Their work includes offering workshops, producing podcasts, and organizing an annual radio festival that fosters capacity building, knowledge exchange around audio, and promoting the free expression of communities. In doing so, they transform radio into a powerful tool for social and cultural change. During this project, the collective and The Engine Room (TER) will work on responsible data practices and archiving for social impact.
This new partnership is part of our Information Ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) project supported by the Open Society Foundation, through which TER is contributing to a healthy and robust information ecosystem in LAC. As part of this larger project, we convene key actors in the ecosystem to co-create strategies for a healthier information landscape and support relevant civil society organizations in strengthening their digital resilience and advocacy efforts. You can learn more about the project here.
We are especially excited about this partnership because it allows us to collaborate with a hyperlocal radio collective on strengthening the information ecosystem. It’s also an opportunity to co-create with young people dedicated to amplifying diverse voices. This initiative will help safeguard the collective’s memories and archives – preserving community knowledge for better decision-making and fostering information loops that enhance their ecosystem. Additionally, this collaboration will explore how technology can be responsibly used for memory preservation projects.
About our Matchbox program
Through our Matchbox Program, we partner with civil society organizations to strengthen their work by responsibly harnessing the power of data and technology. The approach includes technical guidance, strategic advice, and hands-on collaboration. Our support enables partners to develop solutions that are both impactful and sustainable.
About Oír Más
Oír Más is a radio collective that brings together students, employees, graduates, and teachers from the School of Social Communication at Universidad del Valle. They explore and experiment with sound and radio, providing a space for research and continuous learning. Their work focuses on producing diverse sound pieces, programs, performative works, and creative processes that generate new sensibilities and sonic experiences.
What we’ll be working on together
As part of the Matchbox partnership, Oír Más and TER will work together on a project to improve the categorization and archiving for their collective and the communities they serve. By enhancing access to these archives, this initiative will help facilitate informed decision-making and knowledge preservation.
Through this collaboration, Oír Más will learn a methodology for organizing and categorizing archives, develop an initial draft of structured archives and create a guideline document for future reference. The Engine Room will provide guidance on responsible data management, and will ensure ethical and secure data practices throughout the project.
Our joint efforts will include:
- Developing an archive process to safeguard memories: Co-creating an effective and sustainable system for organizing and preserving audio archives, ensuring their usability for future projects.
- Implementing RAD policies: Establishing robust data structuring, storage, deletion, and visualization systems to enhance security and accessibility.
- Training & Capacity Building: Providing workshops and training sessions for Oír Más members on archiving, data security, and responsible data management.
- Policy Development: Co-developing policies and protocols that ensure secure and ethical data management.
Learn more about Oír Más
If you’d like to learn more about Oír Más and their work, check out these resources (available in Spanish):
Visit: What is Oír Más?
Listen: SoundCloud Channel
Deep dive: Social Media
Stay tuned for updates on how this archiving and memory sound project contributes to the information ecosystem in Cali, Colombia. We’re excited to celebrate the milestones and achievements ahead!
Interested in our support?
If your organization is looking for data or tech support, get in touch or schedule a free Light Touch Support call. We’re always eager to collaborate with passionate groups committed to social change.
For more details on our Matchbox program, our approach, and how to get involved, visit our website or follow us on social media.
Image by La Propia Agencia