Posted by 
Aylin Karaarslan
I am a Turkish and Dutch citizen, living between these two countries. I have graduated from BA International Studies programme at Leiden University and continuing my master studies in Communication for Development (ComDev) at Malmö University.
As cultural identity is not fixed but constantly in a change, communication is the medium to understand ourselves and analyze the world surrounding us. Therefore, I am interested in exploring how digital technologies change the social dynamics and maintain the power relations among groups of people. My inspiration and motivation derives from the development and media sector. I believe that communication is central to social development which enables to change the behaviors of individuals and groups with appropriate skills and capacities to create a positive social change. Communication for Development is a process, therefore, I am motivated to learn more and contribute to this process.
Marianne Liyayi
Hi, I’m Marianne, currently based in Germany with frequent travels to East Africa. I hold a BBA in International Business and Languages as well as a Msc in Business and International development studies.
Having a blended background in Business Administration, I am interested in the role of the private sector as a potential agent of development. Specifically, the processes by which tech firms are involved in harnessing data for social innovation, through collaborative processes with various development actors.
Jessica Wright
Hi! I’m Jess, a Brit currently living in New York City. I have a BA in modern languages, and have worked in digital communications in international development since 2007.
Having a background in ‘corporate’ communications and web 2.0, I am interested in exploring how digital communications are used in the Global South and the ethics in terms of how these two connect, as well as how data can be used for transparency and accountability in development organizations.
