Around the world, our community works locally, regionally, and globally to keep the Internet a force for good: open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy. Here is an overview of just some of their activities over the last few weeks.
Internet Governance
🇷🇼 Rwanda Chapter, in partnership with the Rwanda Internet Community and Technology Alliance (RICTA), launched the first cohort of the Rwanda School on Internet Governance. Supported by funding from the Internet Society Foundation, the initiative is helping develop future Internet leaders and encourage meaningful participation in Internet governance processes.
The chapter also partnered with local Internet stakeholders to host the Rwanda Internet Governance Forum 2026, convening leaders from across the digital ecosystem to discuss trusted digital financial ecosystems, digital asset regulation and innovation, and AI governance and accountability.
🇸🇸 South Sudan Chapter co-organized the 6th South Sudan Internet Governance Forum (SS-IGF 2026) under the theme “Digital Governance for Inclusive Growth and Resilience.” Chapter leaders contributed to key discussions on digital governance, trust, digital rights, meaningful connectivity, and resilient Internet infrastructure.
Online Trust and Safety
🇬🇭 Ghana Chapter officially launched its National Online Safety Outreach in the Ashanti Region, marking the beginning of a nationwide campaign to promote responsible Internet use among young people and vulnerable groups. As part of the launch, the chapter produced a promotional and awareness video.
🇮🇱 Israel Chapter published data on reports of harm and requests for assistance received by the Internet Safety Hotline during 2025. The Internet Safety Hotline serves as a first responder for people in Israel who experience online abuse and other online harms. It provides information, practical guidance, and tools to help people protect themselves online and respond effectively to harmful incidents.
The chapter also launched BADOOK!, a new educational mobile app that teaches children aged 10-14 how to verify online content and identify misinformation.
🇱🇸 Lesotho Chapter organized a workshop on AI and cybersecurity for lawyers and members of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service, helping strengthen the understanding of emerging technologies, online security, and responsible digital governance. The chapter used the opportunity to discuss legal aspects and how law enforcement and investigators investigate e-crimes without breaking technologies like encryption that keep online communications and transactions secure and trustworthy.
In addition, the chapter launched the second phase of its flagship initiative addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). Building on a successful first year, the project will strengthen digital literacy and online safety awareness among frontline child protection stakeholders, helping create safer online experiences for children, girls, and women across the country.
🇲🇬 Madagascar Chapter organized a cybersecurity awareness workshop covering phishing, bank account protection, personal data protection, and responsible online behavior, helping build a safer and more trusted online experience.
🇲🇱 Mali Chapter participated in Mali Digital Week, where it delivered masterclasses on digital entrepreneurship, online content creation, cybersecurity, and online safety to help equip participants with the skills needed to thrive in today’s digital economy.
🇵🇹 Portugal Chapter co-organized a public session on cybersecurity, privacy, AI, and ethics alongside the Portuguese Engineering Association, reinforcing their shared commitment to promoting a secure, trustworthy, and open Internet that supports innovation, economic development, and digital confidence. Bringing together experts from academia, industry, business associations, and the legal sector, the session explored how organizations can strengthen their cyber resilience while addressing the technological, managerial, and legal challenges of the digital age.
🇸🇸 South Sudan Chapter facilitated a two-day digital skills training in Nimule as part of its Community Connectivity and Digital Empowerment Project. Building on an ongoing community network deployment, the training empowered participants to use the Internet safely and effectively for education, entrepreneurship, and community development, advancing meaningful connectivity where it is needed most.
Connectivity
🇨🇦 Canada Manitoba Chapter held an event with its partner North End Connect, giving an overview of the expansion of the network, which included the deployment of three additional towers to extend the range of the current community network in the North End neighborhood of Winnipeg. North End Connect provides reliable and affordable connectivity to underserved populations in the community. The chapter started the project in 2021, and since then has grown to be its own self-sustaining independent entity—a huge success story for the chapter and the local community.
🇬🇭 Ghana Chapter hosted a Community Networks Policy Dialogue and Workshop, advocating for policies that enable community networks to expand connectivity and help bridge the rural digital divide. The event reinforced the role of community-centered connectivity solutions in achieving meaningful access.
🇳🇪 Niger Chapter hosted a webinar on how Internet exchange points (IXPs) can make mobile money services faster, more reliable, and more resilient, highlighting the importance of resilient local Internet infrastructure for digital economic growth.
🇿🇲 Zambia Chapter hosted a community engagement event on Internet policy in Mwilaba Village, an underserved rural community facing significant connectivity challenges. Bringing together traditional leaders, civic leaders, students, and academia, the dialogue identified practical solutions to improve digital inclusion. Building on these discussions, the chapter is developing policy recommendations for national stakeholders and exploring the establishment of a community network to expand meaningful connectivity.
How the Internet Works
🇺🇬 Uganda Chapter, in collaboration with the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) and the Uganda National ICT Innovation Hub, delivered an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) certification training for Internet service providers and network operators, contributing to the adoption of critical Internet infrastructure and the continued growth of Uganda’s Internet ecosystem.
Capacity Building
🇹🇩 Chad Chapter trained 50 students from ENASTIC (a public information and communications technologies higher education institution) on digital rights and inclusion, empowering the next generation to advocate for a more open, inclusive, and accessible Internet.
Chapter Anniversaries
🎉 Chapters celebrating chartering anniversaries in July:
🇹🇼 Taiwan Taipei Chapter (30 years)
🌏 Pacific Islands Chapter (27 years)
🇸🇳 Senegal Chapter (25 years)
🇧🇭 Bahrain Chapter (25 years)
🇧🇩 Bangladesh Dhaka Chapter (15 years)
🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Chapter (9 years)
🇮🇳 India Bengaluru Chapter (3 years)
Get involved! Find your local Internet Society chapter or join a special interest group to take action to make global change. Want to read more about community activities? Check out the July snapshot.