Intern-ductions

Hi blog readers! My name is Cynthia Medina and I will be joining the NDI ICT team for the summer. My interest in ICT stems from my desire to combine my undergraduate background in International Relations and current graduate studies in Communication, Culture, and Technology at Georgetown. While I always knew that I wanted to do something international and something having to do with technology, I did not figure out what this "something" was until earlier this year when I took the course Technology, Culture, and Development. Sitting in the classroom I had an "aha" moment: "This is what I want to do". Reading through theories of development and previous project implementations, I learned how culture is critical, yet too often forgotten in development. I also studied the role ICT can play in not only bringing culture back into the development equation, but also providing citizens with a voice in the development process. From blogging to being inspired to protest after watching television coverage to sending text messages to report election violence, ICT provides tools that allow people to participate in new ways. On a personal note, I grew up in Latin America and enjoy keeping up with political news in the region. I also love traveling and trying new restaurants. I look forward to working at NDI this summer and learning more about ICT4D.