{"id":2215,"date":"2023-05-25T12:29:55","date_gmt":"2023-05-25T10:29:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/participationfactory.com\/?p=2215"},"modified":"2023-05-25T12:29:55","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T10:29:55","slug":"supporting-counter-disinformation-efforts-while-testing-a-new-techcamp-methodology-in-tbilisi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/participationfactory.com\/cs\/supporting-counter-disinformation-efforts-while-testing-a-new-techcamp-methodology-in-tbilisi\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting Counter Disinformation Efforts While Testing a New TechCamp Methodology in Tbilisi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since 2016, Tomas Rakos and Katya Petrikevich have participated in over half a dozen TechCamps around the world from Zambia to the North of Norway. However, the last time they engaged in a TechCamp event in Tbilisi, Georgia earlier this year was dramatically different.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This time, the Participation Factory was invited to suggest and test a different methodology that would help participants develop more flashed-out ideas for their future actions and projects. But before we discuss the methodology and outcomes of TechCamp Tbilisi, let\u2019s explore what TechCamps are.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What are TechCamps?<\/b><\/p>\n

TechCamps are part of a public diplomacy program run by the US State Department. In essence, they are usually three-day events focused on specific topics and gathering key stakeholders such as civil society advocates, activists, journalists, members of NGOs, and many others. In the course of their program, participants are invited to take part in hands-on workshops and training sessions that provide them with skills essential to their work in a given focus area.<\/span><\/p>\n

The goal of each TechCamp is not only to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills and to encourage cooperation but also to achieve tangible results in the form of mapping challenges and coming up with concrete solutions. Each TechCamp ends with a presentation of those solutions or project ideas and provides an opportunity for participants to get the funding required to pilot a winning idea as, for example, was the case with the <\/span>My School, My Vote project in Kitwe Zambia, conceived and implemented by Moses Mwansa under supervision and support of Tomas Rakos<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though the project or idea development is one of the key goals, traditionally participants were left with a flexible way to work on it, which resulted in a handful of proposals being developed in the course of those three days. In addition to this, due to the lack of clear guidelines, the level of development of ideas varied greatly. The situation was different in Tbilisi, Georgia this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What about TechCamp Tbilisi?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

TechCamp Tbilisi<\/span><\/a> took place on February 16 – 18, 2023, and focused on\u00a0 Countering Disinformation throughout the Caucasus region. It brought together around 40 participants – educators, journalists, influencers etc. specializing in disinformation and media literacy, – from Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.<\/span><\/p>\n

The main difference of this TechCamp was that its program was tailored to provide participants with the space and tools for not only clearly defining the main challenges and opportunities of tackling disinformation but also for developing detailed project or product ideas. It was also meant to increase participants\u2019 chances to get funding upon the completion of the TechCamp program and to acquire them with product or project development skills they could re-use in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

The methodology implemented by Tomas and Katya over the course of three days is called \u201cAssembly Line\u201d and it includes designated space for ideation, idea development, and feedback gathering. During these three days of grind through Assembly Line, participants identified such challenges as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n