#ASKnet

#ASKnet
The Access to Skills & Knowledge network

#ASKnet is a cross-border consortium of community driven organizations. The network provides access to a range of open source knowledge and information, media and IT related training as well as community oriented hands-on skills.

#ASKnet is a network of hubs and community members,

founded by young South Sudanese innovators,

governed by a Steering Committee drawn from all of its member organizations,

to build a transformative and sustainable media development ecosystem.

Vision

A connected, creative, and open society where knowledge flows freely, empowering communities to shape their own futures by building a transformative and sustainable media ecosystem.

Mission

#ASKnet builds bridges between media, technology, and community action. We strengthen youth-led innovation, share open knowledge, and grow local capacity through peer to peer training, open tech innovation, collaboration, and creativity across borders.

Who We Are

Born from a network of South Sudanese innovators, #ASKnet links community hubs and changemakers across the region. Together, we use media, technology, and peer learning to solve local challenges, create livelihoods, and amplify community voices.

Supported by r0g_agency (Berlin) and Hive Colab (Kampala), with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), 2022–2025.

Our Organizational Framework

Focus Areas

Community Empowerment

We connect people and ideas to build resilient, knowledge-sharing communities, from towns and villages to refugee settlements.

Media for Democracy

We foster media literacy and storytelling that strengthen accountability, civic engagement, and peacebuilding.

Open Culture

We champion open access to tools, resources, and skills. Sharing knowledge creates pathways to new opportunities, entrepreneurship, livelihood, equality and collaboration.

Members
(November 2025)

The member organizations have a community-led focus and contribute to strengthening civil society structures in South Sudan, while creating a basis for strengthened communication and cooperation, especially between communities of refugees in neighbouring countries together with those in South Sudan.

Creative Innovation Centre (CIC)

Rhino Camp, Uganda

Center for Strengthening Community Voices (CSCOV)

Wau, Western Bhar El Ghazel State

Kiryandongo Video Advocate (KVA)

Kiryandongo, Uganda

Reliable Refugee Storytellers Association (RRSA)

Bidibidi refugee settlement, Yumbe district, Uganda

Community Creativity 4 Development (CC4D)

Rhino Camp, Uganda

Community Empowerment for Creative Innovation (CECI)

Koboko, Uganda

GoGirls ICT

Juba, South Sudan

Junub Open Space

Juba, South Sudan

Koneta Hub

Juba, South Sudan

Ma’Mara Sakit Village

Juba, South Sudan

Nexus Youth Initiative Uganda (NYIU)

Adjumani, Moyo and Obongi, Uganda

Platform Africa

Rhino Camp, Uganda

Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF)

Pagirinya, Adjumani, Uganda

Are you interested in becoming a member? Get in contact with us!

Contact

Our Story

Where do we come from?

Building on the context from which #ASKnet emerged as an initiative for improved access to information, media literacy and proactive peacebuilding, a cross-border network of peers and experts is now evolving into an independent, self-sufficient network.

2015
The jHUB Pioneers
Community media trainings with participants from around South Sudan drafted and signed a Charter of Common Values, sparking the creation of the Juba Open Knowledge & Innovation Hub (jHUB) and co-creation of the first #peacehackcamp in South Sudan.
2016
Migrations & New Horizons
As conflict spreads, members relocate across East Africa, developing the #ASKotec kit and planting the seeds of today’s #ASKnet.
2017
New Members Emerge
New informal organisations are established and launched by former jHUB members to create local hubs and teach skills in local contexts and refugee settlements, such as Rhino Camp in Northern Uganda, and towns in South Sudan such as Bor.
2018
A Growing Network
#ASKnet takes shape as an informal collaboration of media makers and open tech innovators across the region. A first collective training session on Media, IT, Open Tech innovation and repair culture held in Rhino Camp South Sudanese refugee settlement.
2019
From Hubs to Community
Six legally registered hubs unite as the first #ASKnet collective; in collaboration with the Global Innovation Gathering (GIG) first international #ASKsummit (DOTS) held in Kenya.
2020
Decentralized Action
In response to COVID-19, #ASKnet shifts to online training and mentoring to connect media and tech hubs across borders with the emerging community of #ASKnet experts.
2021
Strengthening Local Impact
Hubs expand community programs and life skills trainings in South Sudan and Uganda. The “Labmobile” is launched at Rhino Camp, and #ROSHOP modular housing prototype at Pagirinya Refugee Settlement in Uganda joins the expanding resources and programs.
2022 / 2023
Founding the Consortium
#ASKnet formalizes as an international consortium, a self-governed, inclusive cross-border network of South Sudanese led youth-led media and innovation hubs.
2024
Expanding Reach
New partnerships and open culture initiatives strengthen collaboration and OER development across the network, and the launch of the #ASKtraining platform.
2025
13 Hubs Strong
#ASKnet grows to 13 member organisations, each advancing local independence and innovation within their communities.
2026
The Future Is Open
The network continues to expand, welcoming new communities to co-create, collaborate, and share open knowledge for resilience, empowerment and transformation.