By Barkha Manral and Bibek Silwal
As NetMission Ambassadors and young contributors to the Internet governance community, attending ICANN83 in Prague was more than just a learning experience, it was a moment of reflection and responsibility for both of us. Having previously participated as ICANN Fellows, this time was different. We were no longer simply observers; we were contributors shaping conversations that influence global Internet policy.
Throughout the week, we had sessions on DNS abuse mitigation, Universal Acceptance, and the next round of new gTLDs. All of these highlighted the extent to which policy and technology are intertwined—and how important it is for young voices, particularly from the Asia-Pacific, to be heard within these spaces. We are often telling stories around youth engagement, but ICANN83 was an example of how we can immerse ourselves in active engagement. Whether through daily Fellowship briefings, At-Large sessions, or regional stakeholder meetings, it was evident the impact that sustained participation can have on gradually shifting mindsets and enabling progress towards the much-needed globalisation at the local level.
Like all other members from the Asia Pacific region, we noted that our area still suffers from under-representation. This is exactly why initiatives like NetMission are so impactful—because they do not only provide us with information; rather, they fulfil our needs intellectually as well as inspire us collectively. Thanks to ICANN83, we further strengthened our resolve to engage more young people within their communities and include them into conversations centred around Internet governance. Our involvement in the ICANN83 Conference was not in a vacuum. In the previous year, we have been spending time with our communities trying to expand their capacity and create new opportunities for others. For example, in 2024-25 we both coordinated Local APIGA Projects in India and Nepal where we trained students and early career professionals on some basic concepts of Internet governance. These localized programs were an initial step towards more advanced engagement, and it gives us pleasure to note that both Local APIGAs from India and Nepal have now been selected to attend Regional APIGA 2025 conference which will be held later in August this year, in Busan, South Korea.
This reflects what community-driven action can achieve: when young people drive such efforts themselves, inclusivity and participation becomes self-sustaining across diverse geographies.
The above thoughts were also coupled with another realization for us: whether one views participation through a narrow multi stakeholder lens or considers any form of engagement into account—every contribution is worthy. We might think that mark is decades away for today’s youngsters; however, they make visionary changes on their own by taking part in community-led efforts and initiative-driven policy forums.
With ICANN83’s last discussions fresh in mind, We hope, we’re not alone who strives to close geographical gaps alongside intermingling perspectives with still diverging policies—and troops such as myself are able to motivate others through niched networks like NetMission emerge from invisibility while reclaiming the role of empathetic leaders dedicated to keeping society politically aware long after engaging.
The fellowship term may end, but the purpose grows stronger. It’s time to bring more voices to the table, empower more youth, and build a stronger, more inclusive Internet governance community.