International Telecommunication Union Helping the world communicate Youth Programme First Meeting of the Internet Governance Forum Youth Session Athens 2006 ITU/BDT/HRD

Helping the world communicate 6 July 2006 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, 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 and youth issues in the framework of its activities. BDT created a dedicated Youth Programme integrating children and youth issues in the framework of its activities. The Youth Programme is committed to widening ICT opportunities for children and young people, as key contributors to building an inclusive Information Society. The Youth Programme is committed to widening ICT opportunities for children and young people, as key contributors to building an inclusive Information Society.

Helping the world communicate 6 July 2006 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 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 the development of ICT capabilities of children and the youth; To support the development of ICT capabilities of children and the youth; To increase the interest of children and youth in ICT; To increase the interest of children and youth in ICT; To integrate children and youth into the various BDT programmes and ITU activities 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. To involve children and youth in the promotion and dissemination of ICTs. Youth Programme Goals:

Helping the world communicate 6 July 2006 Youth Programme Activities: 1.Create initiatives with emphasis on capacity building, education and work experience in ICTs, aiming at supporting young people, mainly from developing countries and those in transition to increase their knowledge on 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 particular region or worldwide; 3.Develop and support actions and projects that promote access, use and knowledge of ICT for children and youth.

Helping the world communicate 6 July 2006 international telecommunication union Youth Programme Activities 1.Develop initiatives with emphasis on capacity building, education and work experience in ICTs to ensure the Junior 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 the Junior professionals in ICT, better access to employment opportunities in this sector. 1.1-YOUTH INCENTIVE SCHEME Internship initiatives aiming at responding to the young people s need to integrate into the ICT s working area and to encourage and support the first job opportunities. In partnership with ITU Regional Offices (AFR, AMS, ARB ASP and EUR) the Youth Programme offers selected jr. professionals in ICT to achieve an internship for a period of 6 months, with the ITU Regional Office of their origin. In partnership with ITU Regional Offices (AFR, AMS, ARB ASP and EUR) the Youth Programme offers selected jr. professionals in ICT to achieve an internship for a period of 6 months, with the ITU Regional Office of their origin. Several Sector Members joined this Youth Programme initiative and offered internship opportunities with their companies. Several Sector Members joined this Youth Programme initiative and offered internship opportunities with their companies.

Helping the world communicate 6 July 2006 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 complete their tertiary education in the telecommunication and related fields. YES awards yearly scholarships amounting to a maximum of US$ 10,000 per student to cover tuition only. YES awards yearly scholarships amounting to a maximum of US$ 10,000 per student to cover tuition 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 (preferably top 10 of their class); 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; 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 has awarded fifty (50) scholarships to future leaders in telecommunication and related field. To date, YES initiative has awarded fifty (50) scholarships to future leaders in telecommunication and related field..

Helping the world communicate 6 July 2006 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 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 Youth Forum - Asia TELECOM 2002, Hong Kong Follow up Project of Digital Bridge Youth Forum - Youth Forum - World TELECOM 2003, Geneva Follow up Project of Digital Bridge Youth Forum - Youth Forum - World TELECOM 2003, Geneva Follow-up Project Young Leaders in ICTs Network; Follow-up Project Young Leaders in ICTs Network; Youth Forum - Africa TELECOM 2004, Cairo Youth Forum - Africa TELECOM 2004, Cairo Follow-up Project – Enabling Internet Access in local languages (e.g Swahili); Follow-up Project – Enabling Internet Access in local languages (e.g Swahili); Youth Forum - Asia TELECOM 2004, Bussan Youth Forum - Asia TELECOM 2004, Bussan Follow-up Project in ICT Emergency; Follow-up Project in ICT Emergency; Youth Forum - World TELECOM 2003, Geneva Youth Forum - World TELECOM 2003, Geneva Follow-up Project Young Leaders in ICTs Network; Follow-up Project Young Leaders in ICTs Network;

Helping the world communicate 6 July 2006 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; 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 ; 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 ; Partnership for young people and women through the ICTs in ASP Region ; Support Child Helpline International (CHI) to contribute in assuring ICT infrastructure including Internet access for children and young people from LDCs – 2004 ; Support Child Helpline International (CHI) to contribute in assuring ICT infrastructure including Internet access for children and young people from LDCs – 2004 ; Entertainment Education support and rise awareness of the youth of the importance of computers, Internet and ICTs training – 2005; Entertainment Education support and rise awareness of the youth of 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 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; 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 6 July 2006 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. Through donations from Administrations or Sector Members 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 school-going age Kenya – Development of Basic PC and Internet for young people of school-going age Kenya – Youth Programme Activities:

Helping the world communicate 6 July 2006 international telecommunication union Youth Programme in the Implementation of WSIS: All the activities and projects developed within 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 Articles 24 and 25. All the activities and projects developed within 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 Articles 24 and 25. Youth Programme: Youth Programme: recognises the role of ICTs in the protection of children and enhancing the development of children […].recognises the role of ICTs in the protection of children and 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. 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. 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 6 July 2006 international telecommunication union With the Youth Programme: 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. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE