Digital Disruptors, an Amnesty International initiative, is supporting young activists globally as they organize and build solutions to counter inequality, exclusion, and human rights violations. Three participants—Pablo Mendoza in Guatemala, Dina Alami in Sweden, and Christopher Arunga in Kenya—are leading grassroots campaigns addressing LGBTIQ+ discrimination, gun violence, and digital doxxing.
Building LGBTIQ+ Digital Spaces in Guatemala
Pablo Mendoza, a 24-year-old activist based in Guatemala, is confronting the isolation and misinformation faced by queer youth through a digital platform called Disruptorxs. Coming out at age 15, Mendoza experienced severe rejection and isolation, noting that regional stories about LGBTIQ+ individuals remain dominated by heteronormative and adult perspectives that frequently reinforce stereotypes.
Over the past year, 14 young people across Guatemala collaborated to establish Disruptorxs to serve youth living on the outskirts of towns and cities. The platform provides verified information regarding mental health, sexual health, support networks, and community opportunities.
“If even one young person finds through Disruptorxs the hope, support or information that I couldn’t find at 15, then this project has already succeeded,” Mendoza said.
Through the initiative, Mendoza found the confidence to document his own experiences, recognizing that personal narratives within the LGBTIQ+ community carry political significance.
Challenging Gun Violence and Isolation in Sweden
In Sweden, 30-year-old Dina Alami co-leads Kollectiv Sorg, translating to Collective Grief in English. The initiative began as an open letter addressing gun violence and street crime before expanding into an Amnesty youth group and subsequently a broader social movement.
Alami’s commitment to the project stems from personal loss, having lost someone close to her through violence. The movement pushes decision-makers to look past statistics and recognize the individuals behind headlines.
Kollectiv Sorg established Collective Talks, a peer support group meeting multiple times a month for relatives of victims and those directly impacted by violence. The group also organizes public exhibitions in galleries and churches across Stockholm to foster open discussions surrounding loss, safety, and community resilience.
“Grief doesn’t have to end in silence,” Alami said. “It can become action, and compassion can become leadership.”
Combatting Unauthorized Data Sharing in Kenya
Christopher Arunga, a 28-year-old digital rights activist in Kenya, launched the Linda Data campaign after discovering his own personal details, photographs, and home address published online without his consent five years ago.
Linda Data—derived from the Kiswahili phrase meaning “Protect Data”—was formed by five activists who connected through a Digital Disruptors workshop. Following surveys of hundreds of young people regarding digital vulnerabilities, the coalition identified unauthorized access to personal information as a primary concern.
Operating in one of the most digitally connected nations in the region, Linda Data conducts campus visits and community workshops to educate youth on informed consent, privacy rights, and digital safety, while pressing tech companies and institutions for accountability.
“I now understand that digital rights are not a niche issue,” Arunga said. “They’re connected to personal safety, mental health, civic participation and freedom of expression.”
