| YOUTH
FORUM |
|
at
ITU
TELECOM AFRICA 2008 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(FAQs)
|
|
|
|
|
|
BACKGROUND
|
|
|
|
ITU is delighted to announce that the next Youth Forum will take place at ITU
TELECOM AFRICA 2008 in Cairo, Egypt from 12 to 15 May 2008.
The ITU Youth Forum is a unique and successful initiative for its focus on
information and communication technologies (ICT) as a tool for social and
economic development. Created by ITU in 2001, the Youth Forum has built an
outstanding reputation for knowledge sharing. It has been a regular component of
ITU TELECOM events since its launch at AFRICA 2001.
The Youth Forum offers both a regional and global platform in which all ITU
Member States are encouraged to participate. Since its inception, young people
have discussed a broad range of topics such as “enabling technologies and their
applications”, “policy and regulation” and “finance and business.” The Youth
Forum is a place where ideas and perceptions of Youth are developed, analyzed,
evaluated and disseminated.
In addition, the Youth Forum enhances synergies among governments, the
private sector and universities, including higher institutions of learning for
the greater benefit of all. |
|
 Top
of page
|
|
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE YOUTH FORUM? |
|
|
The Youth Forum is primarily a capacity building event. As a result of
discussions at the Youth Forum, the youth explore facts and experiences gathered
by the ITU and the broader telecommunication industry about ICTs (Information
and Communication Technology). This Forum enables exceptionally talented
university students from all ITU Member States to share their ideas and access
ICTs.
|
|
|
|
HOW IS THE YOUTH FORUM MANAGED? |
|
|
|
The Youth Forum is managed by the ITU in collaboration with ITU Member States,
ITU Regional Offices, other International Organizations, Industry
Representatives and Universities. ITU headquarters in Geneva provides
centralized monitoring, information-gathering and project implementation
services for the programme as a whole. |
|
Top
of page
|
|
IS MENTORING PROVIDED? |
|
|
|
Mentoring support services will be provided to motivate participants and to
ensure their healthy and safe participation in the programme. |
|
|
|
WHY IS THE ITU MAKING SUCH AN INVESTMENT IN YOUNG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS? |
 Given
the increasing importance of ICT in the global economy and in existing
regulatory structures, there is an urgent need to improve ICT knowledge amongst
the talented young people who will be future government and industry leaders,.
The Youth Forum builds on the ITU's long-term commitment to assist and support
low income and least developed countries (LICs and LDCs) in their efforts to
progressively improve the standard and scope of their telecommunication
infrastructure and to bridge the digital divide. Plus it is an important part of
ITU’s commitment to helping the entire world communicate.ITU appreciates that university-level youth are driving forces in their
community in making improvements.
|
|
|
|
WHERE AND IN WHAT LANGUAGE DOES THE YOUTH FORUM TAKE PLACE? |
|
|
|
The Youth Forum is held at all ITU TELECOM Regional and World Events. The next
Youth Forum will be in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt from 12 to 15 May during
ITU TELECOM AFRICA 2008. During AFRICA 2008, all the Youth Forum Sessions will
take place in Arabic, English and French with simultaneous interpretation
provided.
|
|
Top
of page
|
|
IS THE YOUTH FORUM EXPERIENCE BE DOCUMENTED AND EVALUATED ? |
|
|
|
The ITU documents and assess the Youth Forum programme, including the
performance of individual fellows. |
|
|
|
HOW CAN TALENTED UNIVERSITY STUDENTS APPLY FOR A YOUTH FORUM FELLOWSHIP? |
|
|
|
University students of both genders are invited to contact the Ministry of
Communications (or equivalent.) of their respective ITU Member state. |
|
|
|
WHAT IS THE FUNDING STRATEGY |
|
|
|
Financing of the Youth Forum is supported largely through sponsorships. For
the Youth Forum at AFRICA TELECOM 2008, the distinguished sponsor Arab People’s
Republic of Egypt, have already confirmed their donation. There are, however, a number of exciting opportunities for promotional
visibility while at the same time supporting these important activities through
sponsorships. For example, by hosting a Lunch Session for the Youth Forum
participants, sponsors also contribute capacity building, as these sessions
always lead to lively debate and a better understanding of key ICT issues.
For details of sponsorship opportunities, please do not hesitate to contact us.
|
|
|
|
WHO TO CONTACT? |
|
|
|
For more details on the Youth Forum, please do not hesitate to contact:
|
|
Top
of page
|
|
|
ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES (AFRICA 2008 YOUTH FORUM)
Applicants from the following countries must be both nationals and residents
of their respective Member States in order to be eligible for the Youth
Forum: |
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Rep.
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo (Rep. of the (ex Brazaville))
- Congo (Dem. Rep. of (ex Zaire))
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
|
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
|
|
