In a significant step towards bridging the digital divide, Tech Village Community Network has partnered with Kijiji Yeetu to establish their own community network in a neighboring region. On Saturday, a team from Tech Village, including Charles Mudimba, Kenneth Afwande, Nicholas Khabola, Fredrick Afwande, and Patrick Afwande, visited Kijiji Yeetu to gain insights, mentorship, and technical support for their connectivity initiative.

During the visit, the Kijiji Yeetu team guided them through the premises, including a tour of outdoor assets, the network hub, and the server room. We shared Kijiji Yeetu’s mission and history, emphasizing that sustainable #CommunityNetworks require robust stakeholder engagement, including government support, local community involvement, and partnerships with the business community. The visitors were able to ask questions and received in-depth answers, leaving them well-prepared to embark on their project.

The visit also included discussions on establishing the new network, community buy-in, and formal registration processes. As a gesture of support, Kijiji Yeetu’s director provided the Tech Village team with essential equipment to start their network, including 1 km of fiber optic cable, media converters, GPON indoor router, and a Grandstream Outdoor Router.

This partnership reflects the shared commitment of both organizations to bring affordable, reliable internet access to underserved communities, which is crucial for education, economic growth, and social connectivity. Kijiji Yeetu has pledged to continue mentoring Tech Village through training, network setup, and ongoing technical support to ensure the successful launch and growth of Tech Village’s network.

The journey ahead includes a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a structured timeline for establishing the Tech Village network, with anticipated phases of setup, community engagement, and sustainability planning set for early 2025. This collaboration marks a meaningful step forward for community connectivity efforts in the region, promising new opportunities for digital inclusion, skills development, and local empowerment.