Our People
Digital Grassroots thrives because of the remarkable young individuals who channel their passion, energy, and expertise into our mission, propelling us towards a more inclusive and equitable digital future.
Who We Are
Digital Grassroots is a youth and female-led non-profit working to increase digital citizenship on Internet governance and digital rights among youth from underrepresented communities globally. Through open leadership, community engagement programs and mentorships, we promote youth activism in shaping the Internet ecosystem.
Our Objectives
Engage youth in internet governance
Connect grassroots communities to institutions that enhance their autonomy in digital citizenship
Create services that respond to the digital needs of underserved communities
Leadership Team
Uffa Modey
Uffa is the core curator of the organization structure of Digital Grassroots. As Global Lead, she leads the Board of Directors and ensures a fluid organizational workflow. She innovates to include grassroots youth in telecommunication infrastructure, standards and policy development. Follow her @Fafa416
Esther Mwema
Esther’s vision for Digital Grassroots has propelled the organization to reach to the most underrepresented even within the context of digital inequalities. She offers a human-centered approach to technology, in such a way that the focus remains on people through digital rights. Follow her @hadassahlouis
RACHAD SANOUSSI
Rachad provides technical support for Digital Grassroots. He designs and develops the online platforms while constantly monitoring their functionalities. As an ICT specialist and climate justice advocate, Rachad strives to mobilize and involve young people in shaping our digital future. Follow him @rachadsanoussi
Our Ethos
Digital Grassroots vision and core values are of care, intention, collaboration, open leadership and equity.
CARE
We are empathetic, respectful and kind to each other
We value the welfare of individuals and communities we work with
INTENTION
We prioritize quality over quantity
All our activities respond to our mission values
COLLABORATION
We practice a bottom-up approach in our activities
We prioritize the voices of young people in underrepresented spaces
OPEN LEADERSHIP
We practice open leadership principles
We are impartial in principles, processes, and rules
EQUITY
We are intersectional in our responses to meet the needs of digitally invisible groups
We don’t separate digital inequalities from its socio-political framework
Our History
Our organisation was created at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2017 by a group of the Youth@IGF Fellows, including Bolutife Adisa, Brian Nkala, Charlette N’Guessan, Dajana Mulaj, Esther Mwema, Wathagi Ndungu, Katie Watson, Noha Ashraf, Rebecca Ryakitimbo, Sindy Obed, Uffa Modey.
Our first peer supporters were Adja Sembene, Kyristis Charalampos
Our Latest News
Championing Internet Governance Education: Pavel Farhan’s Empowering Dialogue with DIGRA
DIGRA Leadership in Action: Insights from Youth IGF Ghana 2023
Fostering a Feminist Internet: Insights from Pada Platform’s Founder
