DRC

How are APC partners improving their communities' lives? By working side-by-side with the local community, La Différence builds Pamoja Net, a community-owned network providing internet access, while facilitating technological learning for youth on the island of Idjwi.

The fifth session of the African Internet Resilience webinar series took place on 30 July. The focus of the session was to foster a deeper understanding of complementary networks and address the need for internet services in rural and underserved areas across the continent.

APC member organisation Rudi International, based in the DRC, asks how civil society organisations can involve legislators and policy makers in digital rights advocacy.

Rudi International released an op-ed with the aim of drawing attention to the importance of access to the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and to offer suggestions on how to ensure and enforce internet rights and freedoms.

By employing and training three technologists on Idjwi to take on a more active role in the management and technical development of the network, Ensemble was able to bolster community ownership of the network and enhance the skills, expertise and quality of life of this group of young people.

During its first and second Universal Periodic Review cycles, 395 recommendations were made to the DRC. The government supported more than 80% of the recommendations made, but none of these recommendations touched on human rights online.

Rudi International focuses on education, health, literacy, trauma healing for survivors of gender-based violence, and improved and safe access to ICTs. We talked to co-founder Alain-Daniel R. Wa-Baguma​​​​​​​ about their work and the future ahead.

Rudi International is a non-profit organisation based in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. They currently run three main programmes: Rudi Education, Encourage Mothers and a programme focused on information and communications technologies (ICTs).