From 11 to 13 March 2025, Varadero, Cuba hosted the ITU Global Youth Summit, bringing together young people from around the world. Dorin Boogaard, our Generation Connect Youth Envoy from the Netherlands, represented European youth at the summit.
The ITU Global Youth Summit (GYS) covered a diverse range of critical topics with a clear focus on empowering young people and fostering their active participation in the digital world. The program included sessions on education and digital skills development. The sessions highlighted the urgent need for international collaboration while stressing the importance of a localized approach that incorporates local languages and cultures.
Our Envoy, Dorijn Boogard, contributed to the session "Youth Regional Priorities to Foster Equitable Empowerment for a Connected Digital Future" and delivered a powerful speech during the closing ceremony. In both the regional priorities dialogue and her closing speech, she emphasized key themes such as sustainability, inclusivity, and the protection of human rights, as outlined in The ITU Generation Connect Europe Youth Envoys' Vision for Digital Development in Europe Towards 2030.
Overall, the summit underscored the need for a collaborative and inclusive approach to harness the full potential of youth and digital technologies for the benefit of all. It highlighted the importance of ensuring that young people are equipped with the skills, opportunities, and platforms necessary to actively contribute to and influence the future of technology.
