30 Organisations in 19 Countries Receive Grants For FASTAfrica Actions

We believe Africa’s future depends on an Internet that is F.A.S.T. – Fast, Affordable, Safe and Transparent. To advance these aims, the Web Foundation is supporting 30 local groups working on Internet policy and digital rights in 19 countries with small grants. These grants will be used to organise activities and enhance regional collaboration during the #FASTAfrica week of action from May 1-7, 2016.

The organisations selected for small grants were chosen following an open call. We received more than 90 applications with many wonderful ideas – we only wish we could have supported more! Grantees represent a wide range of communities, including hacker spaces, academia, youth groups and women’s rights activists.

A full table of all those chosen for a grant is below. Highlights include:

• Right2Know Campaign (South Africa) will organize a workshop on rural connectivity on May 5 and an Internet policy forum on May 6.
• Women Inspiration Development Center (Nigeria) will hold a FASTAfrica rally and host two radio phone-in programs on Internet rights (one in English, one in local language) involving young people.
• Mesh Bukavo (DRC) will hold a two day workshop to teach 30 university students how to access and use free community wireless and teach others to do the same.
  Update: Apologies, a previous version of this post incorrectly listed CSMA in Zimbabwe as a grant recipient. 

We will be offering descriptions and updates of activities on our FASTAfrica Map of Events. We hope the widespread interest serves as proof and inspiration to all that there is scope for even more regional community building around Internet rights and access.

Do you want to join FASTAfrica by hosting your own event? Register here and we’ll help you spread the word! Or join us on social media where everyone will be watching.