Girlhype Women Who Code, South Africa
I have a Bachelor of Social Science from University of Cape Town and a Post graduate Diploma in Marketing Management. I also did a short course in Law and Technology fellowship in Brazil ITS, and a TechWomen fellow, a program offered by the US state Department.
Fellow Report:
Participating in the 19th European Summer School on Internet Governance (EuroSSIG) was a transformative experience that reshaped my understanding of internet governance and my role within it. Held from July 26 to August 2, 2025, at the historic St. Afra Monastery in Meissen, Germany, this intensive program brought together 20 carefully selected fellows from around the world for an immersive exploration of internet governance’s technical, policy, and ethical dimensions. As someone with experience in digital rights advocacy and policy work, including serving as co-chair of the T20 during India’s G20 presidency, I arrived confident in my knowledge. However, the first day’s sessions quickly revealed the gaps in my understanding.
The program’s rigorous curriculum challenged my assumptions and expanded my perspective. When Professor Wolfgang Kleinwächter detailed the Internet governance and geo-strategic policy, Adam Peake detailed ICANN’s decision-making processes, and RIPE facilitator explained IPv6 allocation, it made me realise how technical internet governance can get. One of the most valuable aspects of EuroSSIG was its emphasis on bridging theory and practice. The WSIS+20 exercise was particularly impactful, requiring us to draft policy recommendations while navigating real-world constraints and stakeholder perspectives. This experience taught me that effective policy cannot exist in isolation but must balance idealism with practical feasibility. As part of that focus, I also had the chance to represent Girlhype Women Who Code during the WSIS+20 stakeholder consultation
EuroSSIG masterfully blurred the lines between learning and living—where faculty didn’t just lecture but lingered after hours, debating passionately over meals and making themselves genuinely accessible beyond the classroom. From the warmth of the welcome dinner to dot.Berlin’s sponsored evening with Dirk Krischenowski’s thought-provoking presentation, and the lively BBQ closing ceremony, every informal gathering deepened connections and enriched discussions. Exploring Meissen’s historic streets and porcelain workshops added cultural depth to our conversations, while late-night talks with peers from around the world revealed a striking truth: while internet governance challenges are universal, the solutions must always be rooted in the local context.
EuroSSIG’s interdisciplinary approach gave me new tools to engage with internet governance’s complex landscape. Technical sessions demystified critical internet infrastructure, while policy discussions with experts like Adam Peake and Michael Hausding explored emerging challenges at the intersection of technology and law. Faculty mentors, including Professor Kleinwächter and Tatiana Tropina, really challenged us to defend our positions while finding common ground during finalizing our group submission to WSIS+20 recommendations, sharpening both my analytical and diplomatic skills.
EuroSSIG’s impact on my professional development has been profound. The program strengthened my abilities, enabling me to participate more confidently in infrastructure policy debates.
As I reflect experience, I recognize it as more than just an educational program—it was a transformative journey that reshaped how I approach internet governance challenges. The school equipped me with knowledge and a methodology for navigating this complex field, emphasizing the need to balance innovation with rights protection, technical requirements with ethical considerations, and national priorities with global cooperation. I leave the program committed to applying these lessons through concrete actions, from submitting our WSIS+20 recommendations to UN processes to new relationships formed.