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As part of the celebration of Internet Day, which is commemorated on May 17, the 7th edition of the “Zoom on your rights” contest is launched, an initiative of Save the Children and the Chicos.net Association, with the participation of partner organizations and networks in the region that make up the Regional Civil Society Support Program (PASC), such as Action for Children, Rede Nao Bata Eduque, Paz y Esperanza, Global Infancia, Yo También Tengo Algo que Decir, Corrientes and the Municipality of Comodoro.
In this edition, the contest invites children and adolescents from Latin America and the Caribbean to reflect and produce content about how the Internet and social networks impact their lives and the full enjoyment of their rights. The proposal is focused on promoting the necessary skills from childhood and adolescence to exercise a critical digital citizenship. Current issues such as understanding the logic of platforms and algorithms, detecting disinformation and fake news, counteracting hate speech and knowing what is involved in handing over personal data, are some of the fundamental aspects to develop in digital environments in a safe, responsible and creative way.
“Zoom on your rights” achieved a record last year with the submission of 530 videos that were produced by 2,120 children and adolescents from 12 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, who expressed themselves and made visible the main issues that concern them through their digital productions.
“Zoom on your rights” is an invaluable opportunity for children and adolescents to express their proposals about the digital world. Our goal is to motivate participation in the language they use the most: digital and audiovisual content. Year after year their productions are a compass to understand how the Internet impacts their lives, and how we have to accompany them from the adult world so that this immersion is positive, responsible and safe, says Andrea Urbas, Director of Chicos.net, and adds that in its 6 previous editions “Zoom to your rights” motivated the production of 1,175 videos, with the direct participation of 5,270 children and adolescents from all Latin America.
Victoria Ward, Save the Children’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean highlights: “It fills me with joy to see the growth and evolution of the Zoom on your Rights Contest, which reaches more and more children and adolescents in the region and encourages them to be active, participatory citizens, raising their voices and defending their rights through digital tools. We hope that many more children can join us this year, using their creativity, ingenuity and reflections to influence the construction of more inclusive and democratic societies”.
The “Zoom on your rights” contest is open to children and adolescents from Latin America and the Caribbean, up to 18 years of age, this year awarding new alternative formats. In addition to the classic 2-minute video, a “mini-podcast” option was added to immerse participants in the world of podcasting with short, creative audio episodes. Another format they can apply to is the “social media style short video” (category suitable only for those over 13 years old), which allows them to use popular TikTok tools: filters, special effects and trendy music to tell stories, dance, do challenges or quick tutorials. They can also participate by creating “digital illustrations, animations or cartoons” that show skill in digital tools, or “music videos,” connecting songs with images that reflect the narrative in a specific and powerful way.
It is worth mentioning the participation of renowned influencers Steffania Uttaro and Pepe en las Nubes, who will once again be the hosts of the contest and will guide the participants with their experience, recommendations and hacks to help them in their audiovisual productions.
Prizes for teams of up to 4 participants and their teacher include tablets, bluetooth speakers, smart watches, among others. Teachers can also find resources to support student participation, and the school that submits the most videos will be awarded a 3D printer.
The jury that will evaluate the productions is composed of prominent personalities linked to children’s rights: Rotimy Djossaya, Executive Director of Global Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children; José Luis Caballero Ochoa, Commissioner at the IACHR and Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and Children’s Rights; Lourdes Febres Chirinos, Executive Director of Acción por los Niños; Andrea Remes, co-founder and CEO of Erandi Aprende; Santiago Barrail, Policy Manager at the European Partnership for Democracy; and Marcela Czarny, Director and founder of Chicos.net. In addition, the Be Kind group, winners of the 2023 competition, will be part of the jury.
More information on the 2024 Competition can be found at www.concursozoom.org.
