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Abstract :
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The World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) 2022, held in Kigali, Rwanda from June 6 to 16, showcased a successful example of youth inclusion in discussions shaping the digital future. However, youth participation in such high-level events often remains limited to appeals to global leaders without providing real opportunities for decision-making and project implementation. To achieve deeper engagement, it is proposed to develop practices where youth are genuinely involved in developing and implementing projects, particularly in regions like CIS and others. By empowering youth to lead initiatives such as educational programs that connect schools and teach digital skills, we can ensure more productive intergenerational collaboration towards shared goals of digital transformation and sustainable development.
Current Challenges
Despite commitments to "listen to and work with youth," their participation often does not extend beyond symbolic involvement in high-level conferences. There is a lack of mechanisms that enable youth to actively participate in decision-making processes and to lead projects that address digital challenges in their regions.
The proposed Youth2Connect initiative aims to bridge this gap by:
Allocating Additional Budgets: Providing dedicated funding for youth-led projects in each region, encouraging the private and public sectors to match contributions. This financial support empowers youth to develop and implement projects over a one-year period.
Developing Regional Projects: Enabling youth to focus on initiatives that address specific needs in their regions. For example, in Central Asia, youth could develop educational programs that connect schools, create digital curricula, and train students and teachers in digital literacy.
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