5 - Advocating For Your Community

Once your organization has established its presence on the Internet, you can take the next step of integrating the Internet more fully into your everyday advocacy activities. The broad reach of the Internet can transform the way you advocate for your community, and enable you to have an even greater impact on the people you serve.

Online advocacy is a relatively new phenomenon in the civil society sector, so many of the examples in this chapter come not only from Africa, but also from organizations across the globe. By thinking of your Web presence as an advocacy tool, and adopting some of the ideas in this chapter over time, you are truly harnessing the power of the Internet for your organization.

• Identify ways to make your Web presence an effective advocacy tool
• Inform key audiences about the issues and concerns relevant to your mission
• Organize people and organizations around your cause
• Motivate people to action