Nairobi, Kenya, 2019

Tackling digital rights in Africa in our first-ever thematic design sprint.

Applications from CSOs

139

Applications from creatives

273

Value of pro bono hours donated

$106k

Nationalities represented

19 OVERVIEW

This sprint had two firsts. It was the first time we were hosting an event in Kenya and it was also the first thematic sprint where all the selected civil society organisations (CSOs) work to protect and promote human rights online.

This was one of the most competitive events we’ve ever hosted, with 139 CSOs applying for just five spots and 273 local, regional and international data scientists, data journalists, graphic designers and web developers applying for just 20 spots!

It was hosted at creative co-working space Nairobi Garage from 30 May - 3 June, 2019. Have a look below and see what the alumni of #D4CNairobi created in just five days.

MEET THE CSOS

An Ethiopian Residents’ Charity working to empower people with visual impairments through ICT training.

An organisation aimed at mobilising civic action against hate speech and incitement to violence online in South Sudan.

A Uganda-based organisation working protects and promotes human rights defenders in the East and Horn of Africa sub-region.

A civic-tech organisation seeking to improve Ugandan citizens’ access to information and services online.

Access Now defends and extends the digital rights of users at risk around the world.

PROJECTS

Featured

#KeepItOn

Visualising how internet shutdowns are damaging human rights.

Hear The Blind Spot

Using data sonification and storytelling to advocate for persons with visual impairments in Ethiopia.

TEAM LEADERS

From left to right: Nomzamo, Ron, Kim and Valentina

Nomzamo Majuqwana
A Strategy Director at Wolff Olins, the global brand and design consultancy, at the time of the event. She has over 10 years’ experience helping organisations to clearly articulate what they stand for, and to deliver on that mission through everything they do and make for people. We were so blown away by Nomzamo that post sprint we immediately asked her to join the first edition of our board.

Ron Nixon
A veteran data journalist who is the International Investigations Editor for the Associated Press, prior to that he was at the New York Times for 14 years. Ron is the co-founder of several organisations; Truth Be Told a fact-checking news service, the open data initiative Ujima, and the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, an organisation that seeks to increase the number of Black, Latinx, Asian and other minority journalists.

Kim Rees
A legend in the dataviz field Kim co-founded the data visualisation firm Periscopic and worked there for 13 years. At the time of the event she was Head of Data Experience Design at Capital One helping to elevate the practices of data-centric professions. Her work involves Data Visualisation, Computational Behaviour Science, Responsible AI, and Instrumentation. She is now the VP of Integrated Experiences at Capital One.

Valentina D'Efilippo
Named one of Campaign’s 30 Future Creative Leaders, Valentina is an award-winning designer, creative director, and co-author of the must-have book The Infographic History of the World. Her work has been exhibited at various events and museums around the world. She also teaches the data visualisation Masterclasses at The Guardian. Originally from Italy, she now lives in London.