Written by Phyo Thiri Lwin
The Internet governance community is growing these days likewise young people’s participation does matter a lot by contributing there. At the same time, we need a platform where we can gather, discuss and advocate for Internet governance by expanding our Internet governance youth community. In the Asia Pacific region, it is relatively difficult to find many platforms where young people can engage, and improve their skills and their understanding of the Internet governance ecosystem. Not only at the sub-regional and regional level but also at the global level, we can keep contributing our efforts and time to be preserved the young people’s voices in a place otherwise, in a platform once we have built our capacity building and knowledge about Internet governance.
The fellowship programs are opportunities for young people to explore more about Internet technology, Internet governance, and the Internet ecosystem. In addition to that, we will get a chance to interconnect with the Asia Pacific Internet governance community. For example, the Asia Pacific Internet Governance Forum fellowship program. As we are in the APAC community, the APrIGF Fellowship program is one of the best options for young people. Along with this fellowship program, there is also included mentorship sessions so the group of fellow can get advice and feedback regarding their involvement and activities. The fellowship program will be ended at Asia Pacific Internet Governance Forum. Another example of a fellowship program is the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre Fellowship program. In this fellowship program, young people will get access the information and knowledge about Internet technology, Internet security, Internet Protocol, and so on. In addition to that, they will get a chance to attend APNIC Conference. However, the model and structure of fellowship programs might change yearly.
Before trying or joining these fellowship programs, it is recommended to join Asia Pacific Youth Internet Governance Forum and get access to capacity-building sessions at NetMission Academy to better understand Internet Governance and its ecosystem. They are the right places where young people start engaging and getting information. The vision of NetMission is that the empowerment of, and the informed perspectives and participation from young digital natives, provide substantive and constructive enrichment to the multi-stakeholder Internet governance discourse, globally and locally, now and into the future.
I was a NetMission Ambassador in the 2020-2021 batch. What could I do next? There were volunteer opportunities after graduation from NetMission Academy and I joined some Alumni volunteers group to help out NetMission.Asia’s growth and development as well as for improving myself. For understanding Internet governance as a young person from a social science background, volunteering at NetMission.Asia helped to enrich my knowledge, and be aware of key players such as UN IGF, ICANN, APNIC, ISOC, IETF, ITU, ISPs, and Governments in the Internet governance Ecosystem.