> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://shard-network.gitbook.io/shardnetwork-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://shard-network.gitbook.io/shardnetwork-docs/the-story-behind-shard.md).

# The Story behind Shard

In 2024, Richard and Jerome were students at a university campus deep in rural Nigeria. They were freelancers with paying clients, but they constantly lost work because of terrible internet. They owned multiple SIM cards and routers, yet the connections were so bad that they had to toggle airplane mode just to reset the network.

One night, they went to campus to work on a project. All networks went blank. The internet blackout lasted hours, and even by the next day, nothing came through.

That was the moment we truly understood what it means to lack access. We realized the problem was not just about internet. It was about access to everything else: mentorship, global partnerships, funding, opportunities, internships, scholarships, and a community of builders.

We did not just build an ISP. We built a campus internet service provider that builds access – connecting African students to the internet, to each other, and to the world.

### Our Core Belief

> *"The only thing standing between an African student and their future is ACCESS.*
>
> *Access to quality mentorship. Access to global partnerships. Access to funding and investment. Access to real-world opportunities like internships, remote jobs, and scholarships. Access to reliable information, education, and learning resources. Access to a supportive community of builders. Access to 24/7 power supply. Access to strong and reliable internet.*
>
> *Give them that, and they can compete with anyone in the world."*