By Michele Jolin

The spread of information technology (IT) is changing societies around the world. Nations' economies are increasingly being driven by technological advances and those who have an understanding of, and access to, technology stand a heightened chance of advancement in these changing economies. Conversely, those without these skills will become increasingly disaffected and disengaged from the workplace.

IT is also being used to spread and exchange information about a host of important societal issues that are facing governments and their people, including protection of the environment, access to health care, reforming education and understanding human rights. Those with access to this information are easily able to engage in community dialogue, to have a voice in public debates and participate more fully in decisions that affect their lives.

Because IT is now more critical to an individual's economic progress and integration in the wider society, a large and growing "digital divide" is being created between the technological "haves" and "have nots" – that is, a division between those with access to IT who will be able to participate fully in all aspects of society and those who will be left behind. This growing digital divide will have an enormous impact on the strength and sustainability of participatory democracies around the world.

Social entrepreneurs around the world are experimenting to reduce the digital divide. Consider Brazil: in one of Rio de Janeiro's most crowded, crumbling favelas (urban slums), the face of a dark, curly haired boy glows in front of a computer screen, as he writes stories and poems about life in the world and streets around him. This young boy is one of thousands of Brazil's young people who now have access to computers and are learning to use information technology in a myriad ways, thanks to the Committee to Democratize Information Technology (CDI).

CDI is helping young people to leap the growing "digital divide" and is helping them build real futures in the rapidly changing, globally interconnected economy. CDI was founded by Rodrigo Baggio, who began his career as a teacher in an elite high school and as a consultant in information technology. In his twenties, Baggio grew increasingly distressed at seeing the digital revolution – and the opportunities it presents – bypassing the over 25 million people living in Brazil's favelas.

CDI uses community-managed computer schools to teach poor and marginalized youth marketable skills such as managing operating systems, maintaining hardware and how to use the word processor, spreadsheets and presentation software. Most importantly, CDI schools use the lure of technology to draw kids away from the streets and get them to think about problems directly affecting them such as drugs, crime and AIDS.

This issue of Changemakers uses the example of Baggio's CDI to highlight just one highly successful model of how technology is used to help prepare people – especially young, disenfranchised people – for the changing world and to help strengthen and build democratic participation in their nations.

If you have other models or examples to share with us, we welcome your input, and will add it to this month's Journal.