youth programme background and purpose

Helping the world communicate

ITU/BDT/HRD Youth Programme

Regional Interagency Working GroupAsia and Pacific region1st December, Bangkok


Youth Programme Youth Programme Background and PurposeBackground and Purpose

In accordance with Resolution 38 of the In accordance with Resolution 38 of the Word Word Telecommunication Development Conference Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) held in Istanbul in 2002 reinforced in (WTDC) held in Istanbul in 2002 reinforced in Doha in 2006, which Doha in 2006, which recognises that the recognises that the young people areyoung people are the best promoters of ICTs the best promoters of ICTs andand contributors in the World Information contributors in the World Information Society, Society,

BDT created a dedicated Youth Programme BDT created a dedicated Youth Programme integrating children and youth issues integrating children and youth issues in the in the framework of its activities. framework of its activities.

The Youth Programme is The Youth Programme is committed committed to to widening ICT opportunities for children and widening ICT opportunities for children and young people, as key contributors to build an young people, as key contributors to build an inclusive Information Society. inclusive Information Society.


Develop and strengthen actions to make Develop and strengthen actions to make ICTs accessible to children and young ICTs accessible to children and young people, particularly the disadvantaged and people, particularly the disadvantaged and marginalized ones, thereby bridging the marginalized ones, thereby bridging the digital divide;digital divide;

Support the development of ICT capabilities Support the development of ICT capabilities of children and youth;of children and youth;

Increase the interest of children and youth Increase the interest of children and youth in ICTs;in ICTs;

Integrate “children and youth” into the BDT Integrate “children and youth” into the BDT programmes and ITU activities;programmes and ITU activities;

Involve children and youth in the promotion Involve children and youth in the promotion and dissemination of ICTs.and dissemination of ICTs.

Youth Programme GoalsYouth Programme Goals


Youth Programme ActivitiesYouth Programme Activities

1.1. Create initiatives with emphasis on Create initiatives with emphasis on capacity building, education and work capacity building, education and work experience in ICTs, aiming at supporting experience in ICTs, aiming at supporting young people, mainly from developing young people, mainly from developing countries and those in transition to countries and those in transition to increase their knowledge in information increase their knowledge in information and communication technologies;and communication technologies;

2.2. Assure the follow-up of the Youth Forums Assure the follow-up of the Youth Forums through Actions and Projects that identify through Actions and Projects that identify the needs related to the promotion of the the needs related to the promotion of the ICTs among the youth in a particular region ICTs among the youth in a particular region or worldwide;or worldwide;

3.3. Develop and support actions and projects Develop and support actions and projects that promote access, use and knowledge of that promote access, use and knowledge of ICTs for children and youth.ICTs for children and youth.



1.1. Develop initiatives with emphasis on capacity building, Develop initiatives with emphasis on capacity building, education and work experience in ICTs to ensure the Junior education and work experience in ICTs to ensure the Junior professionals in ICT, professionals in ICT, better access to employment better access to employment opportunities in this sector.opportunities in this sector.

1.1 1.1 YOUTH INCENTIVE SCHEMEYOUTH INCENTIVE SCHEME

Internship initiatives aiming at responding Internship initiatives aiming at responding to the young people’s need to integrate into to the young people’s need to integrate into the ICTs working area and to encourage and the ICTs working area and to encourage and support the first job opportunities.support the first job opportunities.

In partnership with ITU Regional Offices (AFR, AMS, ARB ASP and In partnership with ITU Regional Offices (AFR, AMS, ARB ASP and EUR) the Youth Programme offers to the selected Jr. professionals EUR) the Youth Programme offers to the selected Jr. professionals in ICTs, to achieve an internship for a period of a minimum of 6 in ICTs, to achieve an internship for a period of a minimum of 6 months, with the ITU Regional Offices. months, with the ITU Regional Offices.

Several Sector Members joined this Youth Programme initiative Several Sector Members joined this Youth Programme initiative and offered internship opportunities with their companies.and offered internship opportunities with their companies.


Youth Programme ActivitiesYouth Programme Activities1.21.2 “YES” - YOUTH EDUCATION SCHEME “YES” - YOUTH EDUCATION SCHEME

Scholarship initiative aiming atScholarship initiative aiming at supporting young supporting young people from LDCs or developing countries to people from LDCs or developing countries to complete their tertiary education in the telecommunication and related fields. complete their tertiary education in the telecommunication and related fields.

YES YES awards yearly scholarships amounting to awards yearly scholarships amounting to a maximum of US$ 10,000 per student to cover a maximum of US$ 10,000 per student to cover tuition fees only.tuition fees only.

To apply for YES, the candidate must :To apply for YES, the candidate must :

Be between 20 and 30 years of age;Be between 20 and 30 years of age;

Provide a very good school curriculum Provide a very good school curriculum (preferably top 10 of their class);(preferably top 10 of their class);

Provide written recommendations (preferably from professors) bear witnessProvide written recommendations (preferably from professors) bear witness to to the the student motivation in pursuing her/his career in telecommunication or related fields; student motivation in pursuing her/his career in telecommunication or related fields;

To date, YES initiative has awarded fifty (50)To date, YES initiative has awarded fifty (50) scholarships to future leaders in scholarships to future leaders in telecommunications and related fields. telecommunications and related fields.

..


Youth Programme ActivitiesYouth Programme Activities2.2. ITU-TELECOM YOUTH FORUM - FOLLOW-UP PROJECTS ITU-TELECOM YOUTH FORUM - FOLLOW-UP PROJECTS

Youth Programme implements after each Youth Programme implements after each ITU-Telecom Youth Forum, a follow-up project targeting the ITU-Telecom Youth Forum, a follow-up project targeting the priorities and needs related to ICT development, expressed by priorities and needs related to ICT development, expressed by the young participants in their Declaration and Action Plan.the young participants in their Declaration and Action Plan. Youth Forum - Asia TELECOM 2002, Hong Kong Youth Forum - Asia TELECOM 2002, Hong Kong

Follow up Project: Follow up Project: “Digital Bridge”“Digital Bridge”

Youth Forum - World TELECOM 2003, Geneva Youth Forum - World TELECOM 2003, Geneva Follow-up Project: Follow-up Project: “Young Leaders in ICTs Network”“Young Leaders in ICTs Network”

Youth Forum - Africa TELECOM 2004, Cairo Youth Forum - Africa TELECOM 2004, Cairo Follow-up Project: Follow-up Project: ““Enabling Internet Enabling Internet

Access in Swahili languageAccess in Swahili language””

Youth Forum - Asia TELECOM 2004, Busan Youth Forum - Asia TELECOM 2004, Busan Follow-up Project: Follow-up Project: ““Basic training course Basic training course

in ICT Emergencyin ICT Emergency””


3.3. ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE AND FACILITATE ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE AND FACILITATE THE ACCESS, USE AND KNOWLEDGE OF ICTs FOR CHILDREN THE ACCESS, USE AND KNOWLEDGE OF ICTs FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLEAND YOUNG PEOPLE

3.13.1 Through the Operational Plan of the ITU-BDT: Through the Operational Plan of the ITU-BDT: ““PTC 2004 Youth Panel” held in Hawaii to lead constructive exchange in PTC 2004 Youth Panel” held in Hawaii to lead constructive exchange in

ICT development for youth through the Internet, 2004;ICT development for youth through the Internet, 2004;

““Partnership for young people and women through the ICTs in ASP Partnership for young people and women through the ICTs in ASP Region”, 2004;Region”, 2004;

Support “Child Helpline International (CHI)” to contribute in assuring ICT Support “Child Helpline International (CHI)” to contribute in assuring ICT infrastructure including Internet access for children and young people from infrastructure including Internet access for children and young people from LDCs, 2004LDCs, 2004; ;

““Entertainment Education”Entertainment Education” support and rise awareness of the youth on the support and rise awareness of the youth on the importance of computers, Internet and ICTs training, 2005; importance of computers, Internet and ICTs training, 2005;

““ICT Training for Young Refugees in Liberia” to enable development of an ICT Training for Young Refugees in Liberia” to enable development of an efficient and sustainable education in ICT including the Internet area, efficient and sustainable education in ICT including the Internet area, 2005; 2005;

““ICT training centre for young refugees in Burundi” to assist refugees back ICT training centre for young refugees in Burundi” to assist refugees back from asylum countries to acquire ICT skills, 2006.from asylum countries to acquire ICT skills, 2006.



3.23.2 Through donations from Administrations or Sector MembersThrough donations from Administrations or Sector Members for a specific activity or project: for a specific activity or project:

Youth Education Scheme (yearly since 2003);Youth Education Scheme (yearly since 2003);

Development of the “Global Portal for Children”, 2006;Development of the “Global Portal for Children”, 2006;

Development of “Basic PC and Internet for young people of Development of “Basic PC and Internet for young people of school-going age” Kenya, 2006.school-going age” Kenya, 2006.



Youth Programme in the Implementation of WSISYouth Programme in the Implementation of WSIS

All the activities and projects developed within the framework of the All the activities and projects developed within the framework of the Youth Programme are aligned with the WSIS statements highlighted in Youth Programme are aligned with the WSIS statements highlighted in the Geneva Action Plan and in particular in the Tunis Commitment, the Geneva Action Plan and in particular in the Tunis Commitment, Articles 24 and 25:Articles 24 and 25: ““recognises the role of ICTs in the protection of children and recognises the role of ICTs in the protection of children and

enhancing the development of children […].” enhancing the development of children […].” ““reaffirms our commitment to empowering young people as key reaffirms our commitment to empowering young people as key

contributors to building an inclusive Information Society. We will contributors to building an inclusive Information Society. We will actively engage youth in innovative ICT-based development actively engage youth in innovative ICT-based development programmes and widen opportunities for youth to be involved in e-programmes and widen opportunities for youth to be involved in e-strategy processes.”strategy processes.”

Recognizing the leading role of the young people in the Information Recognizing the leading role of the young people in the Information Society, the Youth Programme in partnership with the WSIS Youth Society, the Youth Programme in partnership with the WSIS Youth Caucus, has achieved a Declaration and Action Plan presented during Caucus, has achieved a Declaration and Action Plan presented during WSIS in Tunis, requesting: WSIS in Tunis, requesting: ““every government to present educative plans and projects to improve every government to present educative plans and projects to improve the use and access to the ICTs and with it help, to achieve the the use and access to the ICTs and with it help, to achieve the diminution of the digital gapdiminution of the digital gap”.”.


TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE !

The young people are the key contributors in building the Information Society. In responding to their needs and supporting their projects, we can bridge the Digital Divide faster and contribute to the development of the telecommunication sector as a whole.

The Youth Programme can bring the young people voices and make them be heard by the ITU Member States and Sector Members, who represent the world decision-makers in the ICTs.


Information is power!Keep connected with ITU

through the Youth Programme http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/youth/

[email protected] YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

youth programme background and purpose

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