Reconstructed Living Labs (RLabs), a South African social enterprise that provides organisations and communities with communication and social media solutions, has become the first-ever member of the New7Wonders Global Voting Participation Programme (GVPP).
RLabs is based in Cape Town, and its social enterprise aims include creating an environment where people can make a difference in the lives of others by using technologies such as the internet. Its social enterprise model allows it to invest in community programmes through its revenue generating business activities, and the RLabs concept is now being rolled out across other countries in the world.
“With its objective of promoting online empowerment around the world, the GVPP from New7Wonders is a natural fit for us” said Rene Parker, Director of RLabs. “Given our track record of work with local and global communities and our extensive networks, we can help to bring the GVPP inspiring message to a wider world,” she added.
“Our global online voting campaigns generate tremendous enthusiasm and excitement,” Eamonn Fitzgerald, Head of Communication at New7Wonders. “We’re channelling this energy into direct democratic participation, and with RLabs is our first GVPP member we are together stronger in our united mission to help bridge the digital divide.”
RLabs and New7Wonders have already collaborated via the innovative initiatives undertaken by Fiona Furey, Head of the campaign to vote for Table Mountain in the New7Wonders of Nature.
Through their participation in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign, previously offline communities (such as those in developing countries, and older generations in developed countries) are becoming part of the internet, thereby opening up all the opportunities that the online world can offer. With this in mind, the GVPP information sharing for national and local empowerment charities and organisations working towards bringing people into the online world for the first time.
Enter the World of N7W