Written by Luke Teoh
As APrIGF 2022 came to a close, I couldn’t help but feel a strong desire to return the following year and contribute even more. Thus, when Jenna, my program coordinator, offered me the chance to take on more responsibilities for this year’s Asia Pacific yIGF, I was more than happy to oblige. And as I shared my closing remarks as the Asia Pacific yIGF organizing committee chair, it prompted me to reflect upon how far I have come.
As with the rest of the youth in this community, engaged with various other commitments; it is easy to lose touch with Internet Governance. Thankfully, through preparing the learning materials for the participants, I was able to polish and strengthen my own knowledge in the field of Internet Governance to offer the best experiential learning opportunity to our participants. Moreover, in the process of approaching potential guest speakers for multiple sessions, I not only broadened my personal network but also cultivated valuable connections with seasoned professionals who can mentor my development as a budding professional.
One facet of this year’s installment that I really appreciate is that both yIGF and APrIGF 2023 were held at the same venue. This made it tremendously easier for our youth advocates to connect with current experts in the IG space and start building their own networks based on their passions and interests. In their spare time, the youth immersed themselves in APrIGF sessions which resonated with them, enabling them to foster relationships with like-minded individuals in a conducive environment.
This year, the youth made great strides in their pursuit of tangible outcomes, a pivotal objective shared by both myself and NetMission. Our collective ambition goes beyond merely securing a “seat at the table” and underscores the essence of meaningful youth engagement. They demonstrated their ability to challenge the prevailing norms during townhall sessions, voicing their genuine concerns about the future of the Internet. This sparked much discourse on topics such as the Internet and Trust, a multilingual Internet, and fostering sustainable youth development.
I am also extremely grateful that APrIGF Session 28 – Exploring Youth Perspectives in Social Media Content Creation, organized by myself and fellow NetMission Ambassadors Bea and Stella, piqued the interest of multiple members of the floor who posed engaging questions to our speakers. This set the stage for new insights being shared on topics that many youth find salient to their exploration of self-expression on social media in the digital age. We will publish a full report on our session soon with the help of the APrIGF organizers.
Our conversations didn’t conclude in Brisbane; in fact, as we prepare to represent APAC youth at the global IGF 2023 in Kyoto, we’re extending an invitation to all. Join us for IGF 2023 WS #237 – “Online Linguistic Gender Stereotypes,” a collaborative effort organized by Bea, Stella, and myself. This is a unique opportunity for young voices to influence the shaping of an internet design with the youth in focus. Together, let’s demonstrate the readiness of the youth to unite and contribute to the advancement of the Internet.
By doing this, we can genuinely put into practice my quote inspired by Dr. Shabbir,
“Nothing for the youth without the youth.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.