The digital pen too is mightier than the sword, thanks to blogging network IndiBlogger’s new social venture; IndiChange. Offering bloggers a chance to change the world through their posts, this project, launched in March this year, has already campaigned for issues such as domestic violence and women’s safety.
Leveraging its position as the largest network of Indian bloggers, IndiBlogger tries to influence its readers through the written word. “Blogging is a two-way communication that has a wide reach and can make a difference. IndiChange.org is an attempt to channel this collective power towards making a positive difference in our society,” says Renie Ravin, managing director, IndiBlogger.in.
Through IndiChange, bloggers can pick a social cause that is close to their heart or one that the portal is supporting and write about it. “Bloggers are spread out across the country; some are even from villages. Blogging has given them a medium to reach out and a communication channel through which they can exchange ideas and thoughts with others who are equally keen and sensitive. It removes shackles such as caste, creed, region and culture and brings people together to become a community that can collectively influence,” says Renie, “IndiChange.org will give them a space to bring to the table their suggestions and ideas.”
Recently, IndiChage hosted a campaign with Breakthrough, an NGO, called ‘Bell Bajao’, against domestic violence. “We hosted IndiBlogger meets in Delhi and Bangalore where bloggers came together to discuss the issue,” he adds. “With ISB’s iDiya campaign, IndiChange invited bloggers to write about any social cause that they feel strongly about. The winning entries had money donated on their behalf by iDiya and IndiBlogger.in.” IndiChange also hosted blogger meets in Mumbai and Bangalore on women’s safety where male bloggers turned up to discuss the issue and suggest ways that citizens can collectively help women be safe.
Within two months, over 800 bloggers have participated in this project either through blogging or blogger meets, thereby helping reach out to over 12 million readers worldwide. “Through IndiChange, we hope to create a single location where one can find relevant content by Indian bloggers about any social cause.”
To be a part of IndiChange.org, one needs to be a blogger and a member of IndiBlogger.in. After this, the blogger can either pick up a cause of his/her choice or blog about a social campaign that IndiChange.org is actively supporting. The link to the blog post can then be submitted to IndiVine under an appropriate category. The link to any post submitted in this category is automatically published on IndiChange as well.
