When Faisal Saeed Al Mutar founded the nonprofit organization Ideas Beyond Borders (IBB) in 2017, his aim was clear: He wanted to uphold critical thinking, science, and civil rights in the greater Middle East. Even better, he wanted to do it with an open source approach.
Whether working with Wikipedia to make open source content available in different languages across the Arab world or publishing suppressed information in defiance of authoritarian regimes, IBB has sought to be “a bridge between different parts of the world,” as Faisal says. Being a bridge means more than simply sharing information. IBB has also helped establish covert schools in Afghanistan where young girls can pursue education even under Taliban rule, and trained youth journalists from minority groups in Iraq.
Of course, speaking truth to power comes with risks, and IBB has become a frequent target of oppressive groups. That’s where Automattic’s suite of services comes in. Not only do open source tools and platforms like WordPress and WooCommerce allow IBB to remain true to its ideals, but Jetpack and Akismet provide crucial security measures. To date, Faisal credits Jetpack and Akismet with blocking more than 130,000 malicious attacks on IBB’s Pressable-hosted website.
Recently, the organization launched an interactive map on its homepage that shows their subscribers and impact in different regions of the world. In a world full of think tanks, Faisal says that IBB considers itself an “action tank”—and the undeniable impact of that action is clear from clicking around the map. Automattic is proud to play a role in helping IBB find solutions and improve the lives of people across the MENA region.
Learn more about Ideas Beyond Borders at its website: https://ideasbeyondborders.org/
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