The ninth edition of the African School of Internet Governance (AfriSIG) finally happened – virtually, because, well, COVID-19 couldn’t allow various fellows and facility members to attend an in-person school. I had mentally prepared myself to travel, eat some airplane food, change my environment, physically meet new people, but that hasn’t happened. Nonetheless, we move.
Who would ever think that I, Ruth Atim, a traditional girl from Northern Uganda, would ever join a school of internet governance, a platform full of the crème de la crème in the world of the internet? Well, I did, and I had a good time learning, unlearning and relearning the internet.
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) did a great job putting together content for a 10-day training, the coordinator and her team deserve a rest, the kind of rest with a view of the ocean while sipping one of those drinks with an umbrella in it. Again, COVID-19 may not allow that to happen. Nonetheless, we move.
During the school, which was held from 4 to 15 September 2021, various faculty members discussed the internet through different lenses, leading to a more holistic understanding of internet governance.
When you first read the abbreviation, AfriSIG, one would think you are going to be trained on how to govern/manage the internet. But, in the end, we were equipped with knowledge that will enable us to participate confidently and effectively in national, regional and global internet governance processes and debates.
Read the full blog post on the AfriSIG website.
Image: Learning, by Alan Levine via Flickr Commons.