International Telecommunication Union Helping the world communicate Fifth African Development Forum "Youth and leadership in the 21 Century" 14 to 18 November 2006 Addis Ababa. ITU/BDT/HRD Youth Programme

Helping the world communicate international telecommunication union Youth Programme Background and Purpose:  In accordance with the Resolution 38 of the Word Telecommunication Development Conference WTDC 2002 (Istanbul) and reviewed in 2006 (Doha), and recognising that the young people are the best promoters of ICTs and contributors in the world Information Society,  BDT created a dedicated Youth Programme integrating children's and youth issues in the framework of its activities.  Youth Programme is committed to widen ICT opportunities for children and young people, as key contributors to building an inclusive Information Society.

Helping the world communicate international telecommunication union  To develop and strengthen actions to make ICTs accessible to children and young people,particularly the disadvantaged and marginalized, thereby bridging the digital divide;  To support for the development of ICT capabilities of children and youth;  To further the interests of children and youth in ICT;  To integrate “children and youth” into the various BDT programmes and ITU activities  To involve children and youth in the promotion and dissemination of ICTs. Youth Programme Goals:

Helping the world communicate Youth Programme Activities: 1.Create initiatives with emphasis on capacity building, education and work experience in ICTs, aiming to support young people, mainly from developing countries and those in transition to increase their knowledge of information and communication technologies; 2.Assure the follow-up of the Youth Forums through Actions and Projects that identify the needs related to the promotion of the ICTs among the youth in a specific region or worldwide; 3.Develop and support actions and projects that promote the access, use and knowledge of ICT for children and youth.

Helping the world communicate international telecommunication union Youth Programme Activities 1.Develop initiatives with emphasis on capacity building, education and work experience in ICTs to ensure to the Jr. professionals in ICT, better access to employment opportunities in this sector. 1.Develop initiatives with emphasis on capacity building, education and work experience in ICTs to ensure to the Jr. professionals in ICT, better access to employment opportunities in this sector. 1.1-YOUTH INCENTIVE SCHEME Internship initiative aiming to respond to the young people need of integration in the ICT ’ s working area and to encourage and support the first job opportunities.  In partnership with ITU Regional Offices (AFR, AMR, ARB ASP and EUR) Youth Programme offer to selected jr. professionals in ICT to achieve an internship for a period of min. of 6 month, with the ITU Regional Office from the region he/she comes from.  Several Sector Members joined the Youth Programme in this initiative and offer internship opportunities with their companies.

Helping the world communicate international telecommunication union Youth Programme Activities: 1.2- “ YES ” - YOUTH EDUCATION SCHEME Scholarship initiative aiming at supporting young people from LDCs or developing countries to finish their tertiary education in the telecommunication and related fields.  YES award every year scholarships amounting a maximum of US$ 10,000 per student to cover tuition fees only.  To apply for YES the candidate must :  Be between 20 and 30 years of age;  Provide a very good school curriculum (preferably top 10 of their class);  Provide written recommendations (preferably from professors) bear witness to the student motivation in pursuing her/his career in telecommunication or related fields;  To date, YES initiative awarded fifty (50) scholarships to future leaders in telecommunication and related field..

Helping the world communicate international telecommunication union Youth Programme Activities 2. ITU-TELECOM YOUTH FORUM - FOLLOW-UP PROJECTS Youth Programme implements after each ITU-Telecom Youth Forum, a follow-up project targeting to respond to the priorities and needs related to ICT development, expressed by the young participants in the Forum, in their Declaration and Action Plan.  Youth Forum - Asia TELECOM 2002, Hong Kong  Follow up Project of Digital Bridge Youth Forum - Youth Forum - World TELECOM 2003, Geneva  Follow-up Project Young Leaders in ICTs Network;  Youth Forum - Africa TELECOM 2004, Cairo  Follow-up Project – Enabling Internet Access in local( Swahili) language;  Youth Forum - Asia TELECOM 2004, Bussan  Follow-up Project in ICT Emergency;  Youth Forum - World TELECOM 2003, Geneva  Follow-up Project Young Leaders in ICTs Network;

Helping the world communicate international telecommunication union 3. ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE AND FACILITATE THE ACCESS, USE AND KNOWLEDGE OF ICT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.  Through the Operation Plan of the ITU-BDT;  “ PTC 2004 Youth Panel ” held in Hawaii -leading constructive exchange in ICT development for youth through the Internet, in ASP region ;  “ Partnership for young people and women through the ICTs in ASP Region ” ;  Support to “ Child Helpline International (CHI) ” to contribute in assuring ICT infrastructure including Internet access for children and young people from LDCs – 2004 ;  “ Entertainment Education ” support to rise the awareness of youth about the importance of computers, Internet and ICTs training – 2005;  “ ICT Training for Young Refugees in Liberia ” enable development of an efficient and sustainable education in ICT including the Internet area- 2005;  “ ICT training centre for young refugees in Burundi ” to assist returning refugees from asylum countries acquire ICT skills – 2006; Youth Programme Activities :

Helping the world communicate international telecommunication union 3. ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE AND FACILITATE THE ACCESS, USE AND KNOWLEDGE OF ICT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.  Through donations from Administrations or Sector Members for a specific activity or project.  Youth Education Scheme (every year since 2003);  Development of the “ Global Portal for Children ” – 2006;  Development of “ Basic PC and Internet for young people of school age ” Kenya – Youth Programme Activities:

Helping the world communicate international telecommunication union Youth Programme in the Implementation of WSIS:  All the activities and projects developed in the framework of the Youth Programme are aligned with the WSIS statements highlighted in the Geneva Plan of Action and particularly in the Tunis Commitment Article 24 and 25.  Youth Programme:  “recognises the role of ICTs in the protection of children and in enhancing the development of children[…].”  “reaffirms our commitment to empowering young people as key contributors to building an inclusive Information Society. We will actively engage youth in innovative ICT-based development programmes and widen opportunities for youth to be involved in e-strategy processes. ”  Youth Programme in partnership with WSIS Youth Caucus and recognizing their leading role for the young people integration into the World Information Society achieved a common Declaration and Action Plan to be taken into account for future projects related to the youth and ICT worldwide.

Helping the world communicate international telecommunication union Youth Programme will:  The young people are the key contributors to building an inclusive Information Society. Responding to their needs and supporting their projects we can faster bridge the Digital Divide and contribute to the development of the telecommunication sector as a whole.  Youth Programme can bring the young people voice be listen by the ITU Member States and Sector Members, who represent the world decision-makers in the ICTs.  TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE