iDiaspora

IOM would like to introduce to you iDiaspora – a global resource and networking hub for diaspora groups and expatriates around the world.

IOM wants to help Diaspora to be agents for change in both societies of origin and destination by providing iDiaspora as a global online platform which can equip them with the tools they need. Unlike many of the platforms and tools currently available that are often targeted at specific communities from a given country or residing in a certain country, or both, iDiaspora will be truly global allowing you to connect with, learn from, and collaborate with individuals and groups from a variety of backgrounds all working to maximize the potential of transnational living. iDiaspora will allow you to create your own networks within and across traditional communities to share and generate new ideas and initiatives across forms of borders.

We don’t want to just create another website, we want to build a dynamic workspace that responds to the real needs of individuals and groups working in this transnational space. Thus, we want the development of the platform to be a participatory process where the end users get the opportunity to shape the design of the platform and to decide what kinds of tools and resources it will provide.

As first step in this participatory process, IOM has created an online survey to collect inputs directly from members of transnational communities. The survey takes only between 10-15 minutes to complete and will provide use with crucial insights into the priority elements of the platform most needed by diasporas and expatriates. This in turn will allow IOM to invest in elaborating the most useful tools first and slowly build and expand on them as new needs emerge. The survey is currently available in five languages including English, French, Spanish, and Russian, with more versions on their way shortly, so you can answer the questions in whichever language you feel most comfortable in.

We would also encourage you to sign up for iDiaspora and connect with diaspora and expatriate communities globally for sharing your work, finding inspiration and new initiatives. You will have access to regularly updated news, relevant resources, learning and funding opportunities. As a member, you will be able to use iDiaspora for sharing your knowledge, creating and managing your events and networking with each other and diaspora experts.

As they say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step and we hope that you will take that step with us by lending us a few minutes of your time and embarking on the journey to create a new interconnected global community of Diaspora.