User:Atholabahizire

Athanase BAHIZIRE is a software engineer and a youth advocate from the Southern Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He holds a bachelor's degree in computer science and a data protection certificate. BAHIZIRE has consistently worked at the intersection of technology and social good, particularly in Internet governance and digital inclusion.

He is cofounder and co-coordinator of the Youth IGF DRC an initiative that brings stakeholders together to discuss the Internet Governance issues with young people in the RDC. He serves as the coordinator of the DRC School of Internet Governance (CdSIG), where he focuses on training Congolese professionals on key issues in Internet governance. He also acts as the principal facilitator for the Central African School of Internet Governance (CASIG). He is involved in mentoring young African leaders as a facilitator of the Pan African Youth Ambassadors for Internet Governance (PAYAIG). He collaborates in equipping the next generation with the tools to advocate for an open, secure, and inclusive Internet.

He was an ICANN78 fellow, he is an active member of the AFRALO and the Email Address Internationalization Working Group of the Universal Acceptance Steering Group. He was also an Internet Society Youth Ambassador for the year 2023 and developed his initiative around internet fragmentation. He is an active member of the Internet Society Youth Standing Group and the Internet Society DRC Chapter.

BAHIZIRE has been deeply involved in efforts to combat Internet shutdowns, particularly in contexts where access to information is vital for human rights and socioeconomic development. He believes that Youth participation in decision making is crucial to create sustainable change.