The Rising Global Voices logo supports communities that reveal their culture, language, and experiences through digital media. The project grew out of efforts to give a voice to those lacking opportunities for self-expression. It became a space where authors, activists, and researchers unite around rare languages, traditions, and cultural initiatives.
Rising Voices is an initiative of Global Voices, a nonprofit organization founded in 2004 by Ethan Zuckerman and Rebecca MacKinnon at Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society. The project was created after Global Voices identified that many regions, languages, and communities had limited representation in global online conversations. Rising Voices focused on helping these groups share their own stories through digital platforms.
In May 2007, Rising Voices began operating with support from the Knight News Challenge under the leadership of its first director, David Sasaki. The initiative provided small grants and training opportunities for local communities and nonprofit organizations that wanted to create online content in their native languages. In July 2007, the initiative announced the first five grant recipients from 142 applications submitted by more than 40 countries.
One early project was Voces Bolivianas in Bolivia, where Aymara-speaking students learned blogging skills and created the first blog in Aymara. Other supported projects worked with communities in countries such as Nigeria, Mali, Mongolia, Ethiopia, and Bolivia, focusing on cultural documentation and digital participation.
Over time, Rising Voices expanded its work toward Indigenous and endangered languages, supporting digital activism across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and other regions. In 2019, the initiative participated in UNESCO’s International Year of Indigenous Languages. In 2021, Global Voices and UNESCO created the “Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages” resource, while Rising Voices received UNESCO recognition for the Activismo Lenguas campaign focused on Indigenous language communities.
Meaning and History
What is Rising Global Voices?
It is a global media network and educational program that supports the development of citizen journalism in regions with limited media access. Aspiring journalists, bloggers, and activists receive training, tools, and a platform to publish stories, allowing them to tell the story of their communities. The program helps create media content, master digital technologies, and work effectively with social networks. In addition, participants can receive small grants to develop their own media projects that share their region’s stories, culture, and current problems with a global audience.
2007 – today
The Rising Voices logo is simple, yet it interestingly combines elements of various shapes and shades. The composition is horizontal, with an unusual golden symbol on the left. It resembles four intertwined loops joined into a single figure. The symbol looks open and layered, recalling interweaving, unity, and interconnectedness, the exact qualities the project was created to represent.
The organization’s name is to the right, written in two different styles. The first part, “Rising,” is bold and confident, with a capital “R.” The second part, “Voices,” is set in a slightly thinner font, beginning with a capital “V.” This subtly divides the name into two parts, creating balanced proportions and harmony. The typeface is simple, modern, and sans-serif, naturally suited for a digital media and communications project.
The brand’s story began by uniting various cultures and language communities to help them express themselves online and through digital technologies. The project supports individuals and communities aiming to speak their languages and share information with the world. The golden color of the logo symbol is associated with opportunity, openness, and diversity, while the black text lends confidence and clarity to the overall identity.
The Rising Voices logo features intertwined loops because the project connects multiple stories and cultures, enabling voices to be heard through digital platforms and communication tools.



