Digital security workshops for human rights and environmental defenders with Karisma Foundation
Karisma Foundation will deliver three digital security workshops to local Colombian grassroot organizations.
Status: Closed
Country: Colombia
Partner: Karisma Foundation
Impact goal: 75 people
About the project
Karisma Foundation will through this project deliver 3 digital security workshops for Colombian grass root human rights and environmental defenders in their territories.
Results
This project set out to strengthen the digital security of human rights and environmental defenders in rural Colombia through in-person, context-specific training. The project was implemented as planned and achieved its core objectives, with results closely aligned to the original aim.
Between October and November, three in-person digital security workshops were delivered in prioritized rural territories, with an additional workshop held in Bogotá. In Tobia (Cundinamarca), 20 territorial defenders participated; in El Bagre (Antioquia), 22 women human rights and environmental defenders took part; and in Mocoa (Putumayo), 17 participants engaged in training linked to resistance against large-scale extractive projects.
The additional workshop in Bogotá reached 20 environmental defenders from urban-based groups who had not previously accessed digital security training.
In total, the project directly reached 89 defenders. Participants strengthened their understanding of digital risks related to their work, improved self-care and privacy practices, and received hands-on support to install and use digital security tools suited to their connectivity conditions and devices. The participatory training methodology enabled people with varying levels of digital literacy to engage meaningfully, reinforcing safer communication practices and reducing exposure to surveillance, data loss, and digital attacks. The inclusion of an additional workshop expanded the project’s reach beyond its original scope and deepened its overall impact.
Challenges and Adaptations
The primary challenge encountered was limited and inconsistent internet connectivity in rural areas, which required the training team to reduce reliance on online tools and adapt sessions to function effectively offline. This led to a stronger emphasis on practical exercises, low-bandwidth tools, and security practices that remain effective without continuous internet access.
Security considerations also required careful handling of public information related to the workshops, prioritizing participant protection and discretion over visibility. Scheduling posed an additional challenge, as many participants balance demanding fieldwork and organizational responsibilities. Concentrating activities toward the end of the implementation period allowed for stronger participation without compromising project quality.
These challenges informed key methodological adjustments and reinforced the importance of flexibility, offline-first approaches, and trust-based engagement when delivering digital security training in rural and high-risk contexts.
About the partner
Karisma Foundation is a Colombian civil society organization dedicated to ensuring that digital technologies protect and advance fundamental human rights and promote social justice.
See their website here.