Rising Voices is one of Global Voices' most impactful initiatives, dedicated to digital inclusion and community empowerment. Launched in 2007, Rising Voices addresses a critical gap in global media: the underrepresentation of marginalized communities in digital spaces. Its mission is to ensure that everyone—not just those in urban, translating services, or English-speaking areas—has the tools and training needed to share their stories online.

While Global Voices amplifies voices through storytelling, Rising Voices goes a step further by providing the support necessary for those voices to emerge in the first place. It offers small grants, workshops, mentorship, and online resources to grassroots organizations and individuals around the world. These efforts are especially focused on communities with limited internet access or digital literacy.

For example, Rising Voices has partnered with indigenous groups, rural youth organizations, and local media centers to train people in blogging, podcasting, photography, video production, and social media usage. These tools empower communities to represent themselves online and advocate for local issues such as education, health, environment, and cultural preservation.

A key feature of Rising Voices is its respect for cultural identity and autonomy. Instead of imposing a top-down approach, the program listens to what communities need and adapts its support accordingly. This has led to success stories from Kenya to Cambodia, where participants have launched their own blogs, online radio stations, and digital archives.

One particularly powerful aspect of Rising Voices is its support for language revitalization. By encouraging content creation in indigenous and minority languages, the program contributes to the preservation and digital representation of linguistic heritage. This not only strengthens cultural identity but also makes the internet more inclusive.

Rising Voices also promotes dialogue around digital rights, privacy, and freedom of expression. It helps participants understand their online environment and the risks they may face, particularly in countries with tight controls over digital speech. By doing so, it fosters safer and more informed participation in the digital world.

Ultimately, Rising Voices embodies the core values of Global Voices: inclusion, empowerment, and community-driven storytelling. It doesn’t just help people speak—it helps them be heard. In an age where digital communication is a lifeline to opportunity, education, and justice, Rising Voices is ensuring that no one is left behind.