IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - March 2015 - 23

Similarly, we define "Bottom-up
Socialization" as the process of making local citizens and grass-roots organizations aware of the issues listed
above. This socialization is generally
initiated by the main local partner
and in some cases by the funding
organization. The initiative is characterized by a gradual bottom-up socialization, seeking the acceptance and Figure 5. Gathering of local residents, regional leadership, and other institutions
trust of the local population, espe- with the goals of furthering the business model.
cially in areas that enjoy local political autonomy and that have a history
before the higher political authorities. For example,
of rejecting social interventions that in principle seek
people participate in non-political groups of residents
to better their conditions. It is important to underline
that watch for the well-being of their community. These
that such rejection of initiatives could be due to earlier
institutions have different lifetime cycles than politinegative experiences in issues of sustainability, failed
cal institutions. Thus their support is very important
initiatives, unfulfilled promises of well meaning organizaas they could determine the project's continuity, partions, and other related issues. Important stakeholders
ticularly when there's a transition in the more political
involved in this socialization are local residents, local
institutions such as the Health Network or the municiindigenous leadership, the main partner organization,
pality. It is important to note that these types of social
and key members of the Health Network. Local health
cohesions have been proven to be very desirable,
center personnel, having generally very good relationparticularly when evaluating regional vulnerability to
ships with locals, facilitated direct communication with
climate change and other challenges that could have
them. This resulted in important contributions such as
devastating effects in the community [19].
the donation of land for the installation of infrastrucIn spite of these organizations, tensions exist
ture and the subsequent involvement of the residents
between authorities and local religious leaders, who
in the implementation and ongoing work. Another
can exert considerable influence on the population,
important result of appropriate socialization is the
particularly due to religious
respect that locals will have
background and superstifor the infrastructure and sertions. For instance, a "comvices. This will extend not
petition" exists between the
only to proactive basic maindoctors or nurses in health
tenance of the infrastructure,
centers and the religious leadbut also to reduced chances
ers (or "witches"). The latthat project equipment will
ter promise to heal diseases
be stolen or damaged.
through processes that conImportance of High Comform more closely to the culmunity Cohesion
tural and religious norms of
An important characteristic
the local community. Native
of the Alto Amazonas region
individuals may have more
is that its citizenry can be
trust in their religious leadquite involved in the day-toers when they are sick and
day happenings of the comseek healing. When such
munity through a variety of
healing methods do not work,
political and non-political
patients are finally referred
institutions. In part because
to the health centers, where
of the isolation of these areas
a sick person might pass
and the challenges their citiaway because his disease
zens face, there's generally
might have advanced to critiFigure 6. Upper portion of a 60-m (200 ft) telecom grade
a high degree of community tower located in the Varadero health center. Each point is
cal levels. To counteract this
building, which gives these self-sustaining, working 24/7 utilizing solar energy and low
tension, health centers and
resident s a strong voice power high-bandwidth (60 Mbps) equipment.
posts have adopted various
MARCH 2015

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IEEE TEchnology and SocIETy MagazInE

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