Internet Society Rwanda Chapter promotes safe internet for everyone

By Elias Hakizimana.

Internet Society Rwanda Chapter (ISOC Rwanda) has launched three programs to support and promote development of internet as a global infrastructure and a resource to enrich people’s lives.

The three programs that were officially launched in Kigali, on Friday December 23, 2022 are Internet for Education program that aims at empowering teachers with digital skills that enable them to use computers and Internet in teaching and learning activities, Safer Internet Program that intends to promote a safe and positive use of digital technology, especially among children and young people. The third program, which is Connecting the Unconnected, aims at bridging the digital divide by providing computing devices and Internet connectivity in the unserved and underserved communities

These programs were launched during the ‘Partners and Stakeholders Engagement Meeting’ organized by Internet Society Rwanda Chapter (ISOC Rwanda) with the objectives to form a community of partners who works for bridging the digital divide and promote an open, globally-connected, secure and trustworthy Internet for everyone, to foster collaboration in the coming years and promote activities of the Internet Society in the community.

Speaking at the event, Emmanuel Mfitumukiza, ISOC Rwanda Chairperson said: “These programs target mostly to educate people on the use of Technology, to use it in building development rather than making it a harmful tool. It is the reason why we established a teaching model in our activities, and we wish that every member of the community be aware of what the internet is, what it is meant for, what it should and not be used for,”

“We want the infrastructure to be closer to the people, and to educate them on how to get them productive, because we want Technology to benefit users, for the sake of national development and citizens’ development as well. Generally, we want Technology to be a life changing channel,” He added.

Diane Sengati, Director of Digital Content and Instructional Technology Development (DCITD) at Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) said: “Internet for all is in the current government priorities, we have an existing model of connecting school institutions and having partners is an added asset for us, and we all work to achieve common goals to connect all the schools in the country,”

The government target is to have 60 percent of primary and secondary schools connected to the internet by 2024.

Sengati said that this target is being achieved at 20 percent in primary schools and 57 percent in secondary schools.

The pilot project in Bugesera

Since 2020, ISOC Rwanda worked around Bugesera district Connecting Schools, empowering teachers with digital skills needed to use the Internet in teaching and learning processes and promoting a safer and better internet in different communities of the partner schools to use technology responsibly under Connecting the Unconnected, Internet for education and Safer Internet programs.

Jacques Gashumba, Director of Education in Bugesera District said: “We have been working with ISOC Rwanda for two years, our implementation has been realized through three programs in three schools, through teacher training on internet use, this facilitates teaching methodology, the second programs helps the citizens around the schools to access internet easily and use it in various development project and to get connected to the world news, the third training program helps children to stay safe when connected to the internet,”

This pilot implementation has allowed ISOC Rwanda to test these programs on different communities and learned how Internet can open doors to quality education for all when used effectively.

Through Pilot implementation phase, 3 schools were connected to the Internet, about 300 teachers from 46 schools were empowered with digital skills, about 2000 people participated in the Safer Internet awareness campaigns and forum.

The way forward

ISOC Rwanda wants to expand area of service to new communities, which requires support from the community, collaboration with other organizations, countries with similar goals.

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