Back

ICFRC: Digital Democracy and Youth Empowerment

Listen to an audio podcast of this program.

Digital democracy uses digital technologies to promote and strengthen democracy, including accessing information, participating in political discussions, and holding elected officials accountable. Young people increasingly use digital technologies to participate in democracy, using social media to organize protests, raise awareness, and contact their elected officials.

Jean-Desire Kouassi is a digital communications professional passionate about using technology to promote positive change. He has a bachelor's degree in English literature and linguistics from the University Alassane Ouattara in Bouake, Cote d'Ivoire, and a professional certification in social media marketing from Kirkwood Community College in the United States.

Kouassi also has experience developing and implementing effective digital communication strategies in various sectors, including health, the press, international relations, family planning, technology, and civil society. He deeply advocates for internet access, quality digital education, and democracy, actively participates in policy initiatives, and leads digital literacy projects to promote positive change in these areas. Kouassi has earned me numerous national and international awards and is a firm believer in the power of digital technologies to connect people, create change, and build a better future.

For more information about the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, visit icfrc.org.

Related Programs

thumbnail of video

ICFRC: Hope and Fears -Why Journalism Remains Essential in a Time of Global Democratic Erosion
Recorded: April 8, 2026
Runtime: 01:20:58

thumbnail of video

ICFRC: Greenland and the Future of the Transatlantic Alliance
Recorded: March 31, 2026
Runtime: 00:59:17

thumbnail of video

ICFRC: Raiding the Heartland - An American Story of Deportation and Resistance
Recorded: February 6, 2026
Runtime: 01:28:41

thumbnail of video

ICFRC: Venezuela After Maduro and U.S. Strategy in the Western Hemisphere
Recorded: January 26, 2026
Runtime: 01:09:53

thumbnail of video

ICFRC: What are the Costs of Widespread Economic Inequality?
Recorded: October 29, 2025
Runtime: 01:24:15

thumbnail of video

ICFRC - Indigenous Strength - Food Sovereignty and Language Revitalization
Recorded: October 13, 2025
Runtime: 01:14:55

thumbnail of video

ICFRC - Kosovo's Cultural Survival Through Literature and Education
Recorded: October 9, 2025
Runtime: 00:50:51

thumbnail of video

ICFRC - Is the USA a Nation of Immigrants or a Deportation Nation?
Recorded: October 3, 2025
Runtime: 01:27:47

thumbnail of video

ICFRC - A Danish Nurse's Journey with MSF
Recorded: September 17, 2025
Runtime: 01:10:55