Change Makers How can we build trust, promote partnership, and enhance regional collaboration among different African stakeholders in the Internet governance ecosystem, including governments, inter-governmental bodies, civil society, industry, media, and academia? When we look at how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed our lack of readiness, I believe that we should be motivated to work together because of the scale of the problems. No single organisation or institution can be so well-resourced to tackle the many challenges that face us. Across various stakeholder groups, we also need to work together because that is the only way to see a complete picture of the problems and be able to tackle them properly. If we work in silos, we stand the risk of tunnel vision and the inability to solve big problems at scale. The way to build trust and promote partnership is to realise that while we are experts in some areas, we need others who see beyond our noses to understand the bigger picture, and we need to maximise the opportunities provided by convenings like the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) and Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFA) to catch up on what others are doing, exchange ideas, have difficult conversations and build authentic relationships. How can we ensure that marginalized communities, such as women, youth, people with disabilities, and marginalised groups, are included in efforts to promote Internet freedom in Africa? Lived experience is very important in finding lasting solutions, and nobody can frame issues and understand challenges like those who live through the problems we seek to tackle. As it becomes more popular to attempt solving problems for marginalised groups, we must be humble to admit that our knowledge is limited and allow those with such lived experiences — as women, youth, people living with disabilities, etc. — to take the lead in framing the issues and walking us towards solving the problems that these marginalised groups are confronted with. If we don’t include marginalised communities in promoting Internet Freedom that works for them, then we are on a hypocritical journey that will end in failed projects. One way to ensure inclusion is to support marginalised community leaders who are already doing the work to build staying power and show us how to collectively solve the problem. “Well, they confessed to a crime and should be punished. If you don’t like that, change the law…” A CIPESA Series 5