The Youth Forum
The Youth Forum showcases the region’s brightest youth as the future
of the ICT industry. Based on competitive submissions, synergetic
students present their perspectives on ICTs’ role in a full range of
social, political and economic sciences. Created in 2001 by ITU, the
Youth Forum has built an outstanding reputation for its knowledge
sharing excellence and has been a regular activity at ITU Telecom events
ever since. University-level applicants from 18 to 23 years of age are
selected based on their visions and understanding of the role of ICT in
development in their respective countries.
ITU is delighted to announce that the next Youth Forum will take
place at ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009 in Geneva,
Switzerland from 5 to 9 October 2009.
Background
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, universities and other institutions of higher
learning, for the greater benefit of all.
Frequently Asked Questions about 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. This Forum enables exceptionally talented young men
and women university students from all ITU Member States to share their
ideas and access ICTs.
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.
Mentoring support services will be provided to support participants
and to ensure their healthy and safe participation in the programme.
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.
The Youth Forum is held at all ITU TELECOM Regional
and World Events. The next Youth Forum will be in Geneva, Switzerland
from 5 to 9 October during ITU TELECOM WORLD
2009. During WORLD 2009, all the Youth Forum Sessions
will take place in English, French and Spanish through simultaneous
interpretation.
The ITU documents and assess the Youth Forum programme, including the
performance of individual fellows.
University students of both genders are invited to contact the
Ministry of Communications (or equivalent) of their respective ITU
member state.
 Financing of the Youth Forum is supported largely through
sponsorships. For the Youth Forum at ITU TELECOM WORLD
2009, the State of Geneva has graciously confirmed their support, for
which we are all very grateful.
In addition, there are a number of exciting sponsorship opportunities
for promotional visibility which further support these important
activities. For example, by hosting a Lunch Session for 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 the Youth Forum
team.
Applicants from the following countries must be both nationals and
residents in order to be eligible for the Youth Forum:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijani, Bahamas, Bahrain,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central
African Rep., Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica,
Cote-D’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus Rep., Czech Rep., Dem. Rep. of
Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Rep., Ecuador, Egypt, El
Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,
France, Gabonese Republic, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras,
Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (Dem. P.R.),
Korea (Rep. of), Kuwait, Kyrgystan, Lao (R.D.P.), Latvia (Rep. of),
Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Libya,
Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall
Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,
Mongolia, Morocco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru,
Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria (Fed. Rep.
of), Norway, Oman (Sultanate of), Pakistan, Palestine, Panama (Rep. of),
Papua N. Guinea, Paraguay (Rep. of), Peru, Philippines, Poland (Rep.
of), Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts
and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome et Principe, Saudi
Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak
Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somali Democratic Rep., South
Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname,
Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Rep., Tajikistan, Tanzania,
Thailand, Timor Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,
Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates,
United kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican
City State, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
For more details on the Youth Forum, please do not hesitate to
contact:
Ms Tsehai Bekele
E-mail: sunny.bekele@itu.int
tel.: +41 22 730 5179
fax: +41 22 730 6204
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