By Luke Teoh Rong Guang
Embarking on the Path: My IGF 2023 Journey Begins
“Your topic won’t matter, and there’s no time for a compelling proposal anyway,” is what I recall telling myself just a few days before the IGF 2023 workshop proposal deadline. I found myself at a crossroads, debating whether to take a chance or avoid it altogether. The phrase, “The Internet We Want – Empowering All People,” ignited a spark within me, leading to days filled with brainstorming sessions and reaching out to experts I had never met before. Fast forward a few months, and I was on a flight to Osaka, with the support of the DotAsia Organisation. To my delight, my workshop proposal had been accepted!
Youth Participation Gap: IGF 2023
My IGF 2023 experience was incredibly enriching. I was amazed by the variety of workshops and the community’s willingness to engage in spontaneous discussions. While I was glad to see youth from my region, their role in discussions was often minor, with many adopting passive roles. On a positive note, NetMission.asia initiated informal interviews with youth participants aiming to inspire others. However, a significant hurdle remains in the form of inadequate funding, exemplified by a local youth participant who could only attend the first day due to financial constraints.
Empowering Education in the Digital Age
In the fast-evolving digital landscape, the imperative of future-ready education cannot be overstated. From the language digital divide to the lack of essential digital teaching and learning skills, and the industrial skills gap, numerous challenges emerge. Achieving digital resilience means ensuring accessibility, promoting literacy, effective assessment, and security. Governments can help by reimagining education, empowering youth for the job market, and introducing digital literacy programs. Furthermore, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and cultivating curiosity play a pivotal role in enhancing the next generation’s readiness for the digital age.
My first IGF workshop – WS: #237 Regarding my workshop, finally meeting the speakers whom I had contacted and coordinated with for months online was a great accomplishment for me. I believe our discussions on Online Linguistic Gender Stereotypes will inspire other “unconventional” topics to be raised and highlighted at future IGFs. The diverse panel of speakers each speaking from their unique perspectives, really painted a more complete portrait of the challenges that youth especially young women may face in the online and offline world. Further details of our discussion may be found in our session report, here titled “IGF 2023 WS #237 Online Linguistic Gender Stereotypes”.