RIOT NETWORK

Access to affordable, reliable Wi-Fi remains a major barrier for many households in South Africa. Without consistent connectivity, people are excluded from education, work opportunities, services and participation in the digital economy. In many marginalised communities, young people are also placed at risk when they have to move through public spaces in search of reception or free internet access.

Riot Network is working to change how broadband infrastructure is built by supporting neighbourhoods to develop and manage their own local Wi-Fi networks. Their approach challenges the idea that connectivity problems can only be solved through top-down infrastructure models led by large corporates.

I am supporting Riot Network to communicate this alternative more clearly by helping shape a story-led advocacy campaign. The aim is to share real experiences from households in marginalised areas, make the impact of digital exclusion more visible, and build public understanding of why community-led connectivity matters. Through these stories, the campaign seeks to shift the narrative from access as a corporate service to access as a local, collective and enabling form of infrastructure.

Is there a narrative out there you want to challenge? Set up a short call with me below to explore how storytelling can support your work.