ICTs and Youth
During the previous WSIS Forum several youth-related sessions were held that resulted in shaping and developing the Special Track on ICTs and Youth, which was created during WSIS Forum 2019. The goal was to provide young people and the representatives of youth communities with a platform to share and exchange their insights related to the information society and international development, including the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
This special track strives to create a space for youth to network and share their vision for the good use of ICTs, the challenges they might encounter on this path, and the solutions young people are already providing to their professional and personal communities. Last year’s sessions brought an understanding of how young people are using ICTs in the times of digital transformation and the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, while striving to achieve the SDGs. There were more than 300 participants from 40 countries during the WSIS Forum 2020 Special Track.
The ICTs and Youth Special Track in 2021 will consist of several virtual sessions discussing ICTs and SDGs, and, due to the ongoing coronavirus virus pandemic, a special session will be held on how ICTs are assisting youth in their everyday lives during these extraordinary times. Another innovation this year will be the workshops held by young ICT practitioners in the field of social innovation, entrepreneurship, social media etc. Furthermore, following the successful launch of the WSIS Youth Power Talks during WSIS Forum 2020, we will continue to host this much appreciated multistakeholder panel of youth representatives who will share their inspirational ICT stories. Finally, a special knowledge café will be organized to bring together the youth community and the stakeholders of the WSIS Forum 2021 Special Tracks on ICTs and Older Persons and Gender Mainstreaming, where the intergenerational discussion will be an opportunity to present different angles and approaches in the use of ICTs.
WSIS Youth Campaigners
The WSIS Youth Campaigners are actively contributing to the ICTs and Youth special track to provide young people and the representatives of youth communities with a platform to share and exchange their insights related to the information society and international development, including the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.