Empowering Vulnerable Communities: The Success of the “Orzu” AI Fundraising Project
The Impact of AI and Technology on Social Causes
Since the boost of AI recognition at the end of 2022, its usage for various purposes has rapidly expanded from marketing and content generation to business automation and artistry. AI offers a unique blend of capabilities across many industries, promising innovation and more opportunities for diversifying activities in businesses and industries.
One area where the adoption of AI and Information Technologies may be lagging due to old-fashioned approaches is in the third sector economy, primarily impacting non-governmental organizations and social economy actors. The emphasis is often on grassroots initiatives and events aimed at promoting and supporting social missions. One might ask what the outcome of integrating technology into such activities could yield.
An exemplary use of technology for a social cause is the exhibition event “Orzu” (Dream) organized in Tashkent. This exhibition, held from June 27 to June 30 as part of the Global Youth Fest 2024 in Uzbekistan, featured 20 art paintings with a unique mission behind them. These paintings depicted the thoughts and imaginations of visually impaired and blind children, collected through interviews with the aid of AI-generated visual prompts, which were then interpreted by professional artists.
At the initial stage, 16 visually impaired children of various ages, both boys and girls, were selected based on their desires with the consent of their parents. They were interviewed by psychologists, doctors, and journalists to understand their worldviews and dreams.
Hikmatillo Ubaydullaev, one of the project’s founders and a specialist at a marketing agency, highlighted the use of Artificial Intelligence capabilities such as ChatGPT, Dall-e, Midjourney, and Leonardo AI in processing photos.
The exhibition concluded with a charity auction attended by local and international guests. Organizers were pleased to report that all paintings were successfully sold, with starting prices ranging from 3 million UZS (approximately $238), totaling 151,4 million UZS (about $12,041), with the highest bid reaching 20 million UZS (approximately $1,590.65).
According to Mahliyo Shukurova, a responsible employee at the Central Office of the Youth Affairs Agency, the funds raised from the auction will support operations aimed at restoring sight to blind children. This event was made possible with the support of several youth organizations, commercial entities, and media coverage.
It underscores the importance of finding innovative approaches to promote social causes and assist vulnerable groups, potentially scaling similar projects into larger ventures. Overall, the “Orzu” exhibition exemplifies how innovative thinking, combined with AI technologies and artistic expression, can effectively support vulnerable groups and inspire broader community engagement in philanthropy.
