Book presentation: “Youth Atlas (Second edition)” | IGF 2023 Launch / Award Event #61

Audience

Upon analysing the statements presented by the speakers, several key points emerge regarding internet governance and youth engagement. Firstly, mentorship is highlighted as a crucial factor for newcomers in the field. A speaker mentions being mentored by a veteran from Brazil, named Davi, who had a significant impact on their career and understanding of internet governance. The role of mentorship in shaping one’s understanding and participation in internet governance is cited as a crucial factor.

Additionally, there is an advocacy for improved communication strategies to engage more people, particularly youths, in internet governance. The speaker acknowledges the relevance of studying communications in relation to internet governance. They also praise the Youth Atlas initiative as an example of successful attempts to engage youths from diverse backgrounds in internet governance.

Furthermore, the significant participation of young people at recent events is emphasised. Youth involvement, especially at the Latin American Caribbean IGF, was notable, as large numbers of sessions were proposed by youths and their voices were heard, demonstrating their active involvement in the field.

In terms of inclusion, the importance of including more voices from indigenous people, people with disabilities, and other minorities is stressed. The need for diversity and representation within the field of internet governance is emphasised, indicating the desire for a more inclusive and equitable environment.

Moreover, the speakers highlight the significance of speaking out, even in the face of adversity. They encourage individuals to persevere, even if they are nervous or make mistakes in English pronunciation, emphasising the importance of having the confidence to voice opinions and engage in discussions.

The value of youth participation in the tech space is also recognised. The speaker, who was once a newcomer but has now become a veteran with numerous connections in the tech industry, explores youth involvement in the policy network concerning internet fragmentation, which was presented in the main session.

The aspect of learning and development in the tech space is emphasised, with the speaker emphasising that support is readily available and there is always a learning curve present. The journey of development is acknowledged, with appreciation extended to everyone involved in the process.

Moreover, youth participation programs at internet governance events are considered valuable. The speaker’s own career trajectory serves as an example, highlighting the positive impact of such programs on career development and networking opportunities.

Persistence and dedication are identified as essential qualities for personal growth. The speaker shares their own journey of progress and growth, attributing it to persistence in pursuing their goals and aspirations.

Furthermore, the growing relevance of issues such as privacy and AI within the field of internet governance is acknowledged. The importance of these issues is substantiated by the observation that there is an increase in investment and attention directed towards them over time.

In conclusion, the analysis of the statements reveals the importance of mentorship for newcomers in the internet governance field, as well as the need for improved communication strategies to engage more people, especially young people. The substantial participation of young people at recent events underscores the importance of youth involvement. Inclusion, diversity, and representation are highlighted as crucial elements for a more equitable environment. The significance of speaking out, youth participation in the tech space, and support for learning and development are recognized. The growing relevance of issues like privacy and AI indicates the evolving landscape of internet governance.

Juliana Novaes

The Youth Atlas is a comprehensive documentation of the experiences and journeys of young individuals in the internet governance ecosystem, specifically those who have participated in IGF fellowship programs. The idea for this initiative stemmed from discussions about measuring the impact of these programs on young participants. The inaugural edition of the Youth Atlas was launched in 2019 at the IGF Berlin, marking an important milestone for this resource.

Despite progress in youth representation within the IGF, challenges persist within the internet governance sphere. These challenges, although less prominent now, continue to hinder the full engagement of young people. Difficulties in obtaining approval for IGF sessions and securing funding to attend events are some of the barriers they face.

Notably, youth initiatives in internet governance heavily rely on volunteer work and personal time dedicated by individuals. The inaugural edition of the Youth Atlas was completed in under three months by a team of volunteers, who have all been acknowledged and credited in the book. This highlights the importance of individual passion and commitment in promoting youth involvement.

Greater youth involvement is essential for fostering a healthier and more collaborative culture within internet governance. The Youth Atlas serves as a source of pride and inspiration for young individuals in the field, aiming to encourage more initiatives that empower and support their participation. By amplifying their voices and experiences, the Youth Atlas strives to create a platform for youth-centric initiatives that contribute to inclusive and progressive internet governance.

In conclusion, the Youth Atlas is a valuable record documenting the journeys of young individuals in the internet governance ecosystem, particularly those involved in IGF fellowship programs. While challenges persist, efforts are being made to address them, recognizing the significant role of youth initiatives in shaping the future of internet governance. By promoting youth involvement and providing inspiration and resources, the Youth Atlas aims to contribute to a more inclusive and collaborative internet governance landscape.

Veronica Piccolo

The meeting introduced the second edition of the Youth Atlas, which focuses on tracking the pathways and impact of young people in internet governance. It serves as a comprehensive tool for understanding and highlighting the role of young people in this field.

During the meeting, a key emphasis was placed on clear communication. Participants were encouraged to speak clearly and at a reasonable pace to ensure effective communication. The Q&A session also encouraged questions from both on-site and online participants, promoting an environment of open dialogue and information sharing.

In addition, maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment was highlighted. Participants were requested to uphold respect and inclusivity both in the physical meeting space and in online interactions. This focus on inclusivity is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), aiming to create an environment that fosters equal participation for all.

The Youth Atlas is divided into four sessions, each addressing a specific aspect of youth engagement in internet governance. The first session focuses on data and statistics, providing an overview of the development of youth engagement over the past two or three years. The second session entails interviews with individuals who have been engaging in internet governance for three or more years, offering insights from experienced participants. The third session is dedicated to newcomers, providing them with relevant information and resources to get started in the field. Finally, the fourth session focuses on youth programs, highlighting their significance and impact in the internet governance landscape.

Despite the challenges faced during the creation of the Youth Atlas, such as a tight timeframe of less than three months, the process demonstrated dedication and international cooperation. Volunteers from diverse countries contributed to the project, showcasing the importance of youth engagement in internet governance.

The Youth Atlas aims to inspire, empower, and promote personal growth among young people in the internet governance sector. It highlights the contributions and achievements of young people, validating their roles within the internet governance ecosystem. This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals of Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and Quality Education (SDG 4).

The meeting also acknowledged and appreciated youth participation and initiatives. Anja Gengo was specifically recognized for empowering youth and encouraging their participation in IGF initiatives. The positive influence that young people can have on senior stakeholders was also acknowledged, with Veronica Piccolo and Emilia working together to set up a youth IGF in Ethiopia.

Veronica expressed excitement and admiration for Pyrate Ruby Passell, who became the youngest person in the IGF youth track at the age of 14. Pyrate’s extensive involvement in the internet governance environment since joining a year ago was also commended. Veronica showed curiosity and interest in understanding Pyrate’s experience as a younger member in the IGF.

Veronica also expressed interest in Pyrate’s activities within the Teen Dynamic Coalition, highlighting their contribution as one of the highlights in the Youth Atlas. The book features both a printed version and a digital edition, with the digital edition including interactive content such as QR codes linking to video interviews and a Spotify playlist curated by Pyrate.

Overall, the meeting emphasized youth empowerment, career and skill development, and the importance of youth engagement within the European community. The Youth Atlas publication was highly recommended, with young participants invited to obtain a copy. The progress made in youth engagement and initiatives since the first edition of the Atlas in 2019 was acknowledged, reflecting global youth engagement in internet governance.

Anja Gengo

The Youth IGF initiatives have seen significant growth in youth engagement through the organization of webinars and summits in various parts of the world. These events have successfully attracted thousands of young people from all over the globe, demonstrating the increasing interest and involvement of youth in important global issues. By providing a platform for dialogue and capacity development, such as the Youth Summit held in Poland, these initiatives have created spaces for both senior and junior leaders to come together and exchange ideas. This intergenerational dialogue is crucial in fostering leadership and partnership for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The IGF Secretariat has been actively working towards simplifying the process and channels for youth engagement. They have organized capacity development workshops in regional IGFs to enhance the skills and knowledge of young participants. These efforts aim to provide easier access and avenues for youth to contribute to discussions on topics such as quality education and industry innovation and infrastructure, which are central to the SDGs.

The IGF meetings, held in Finland, Colombia, Australia, and Nigeria, have played a vital role in taking youth engagement to a global level. These meetings, organized by different youth IGFs, have provided opportunities for young people to participate and contribute on an international scale. This has expanded the reach and impact of youth engagement, moving beyond the conference level and facilitating meaningful involvement in global conversations.

Despite the challenges faced, the enthusiasm and energy demonstrated by young people in these initiatives give confidence for a bright digital future. Many young participants are digital natives, equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the digital world. Their involvement in global initiatives contributes to the promotion of decent work and economic growth. It also highlights the importance of embracing digital advancements in shaping a promising future.

The 18th IGF meeting was considered a success from the youth perspective due to the commitment and dedication demonstrated by young participants. Their active involvement and contributions have made a significant impact on the meeting’s outcomes and discussions. This success further facilitates the recognition and value of youth engagement in shaping policies and partnerships for the SDGs.

Anja, an important figure in the Youth IGF initiatives, expressed appreciation for the engagement of young people and expressed commitment to supporting their continued connection and exchange. Anja also extended an open invitation for organizations to invite her to their IGFs, highlighting the enthusiasm for attending and learning from other initiatives and events.

In conclusion, the Youth IGF initiatives have experienced significant growth in youth engagement through various activities such as webinars, summits, and regional IGFs. These initiatives have provided platforms for dialogue, capacity development, and have successfully taken youth engagement from local to global levels. The dedication and commitment of young participants have played a crucial role in the success achieved so far. The enthusiasm and energy exhibited by young people indicate a positive outlook for a bright digital future. Anja’s appreciation for youth engagement and her willingness to engage with other initiatives further emphasizes the importance of youth involvement in global conversations.

Jenna Fung

During the analysis, several key points emerged from the speakers’ arguments. One prominent theme was the positive sentiment towards youth participation in ongoing matters. The speakers highlighted examples of individuals like Nadia and Jenna, who have made significant contributions to various platforms and initiatives. These examples served to demonstrate the value and impact of youth involvement in addressing important issues.

Another argument put forth was the necessity of giving youth a place in decision-making processes. The speakers argued that youth participation can help to reduce inequalities and contribute to decent work and economic growth. By involving young people in decision-making at all levels, it was believed that more inclusive and effective solutions could be achieved. Jenna’s experience in the Asia Pacific Youth Internet Governance Forum was cited as a compelling example of how youth participation in decision-making can lead to positive outcomes.

Furthermore, the importance of youth initiatives was emphasized. The speakers acknowledged the energy and passion demonstrated by newcomers in the field of youth initiatives. They also mentioned that although there are many acronyms related to youth initiatives, not everyone may be aware of platforms like the Global Youth Summit. This highlights the need for increased awareness and support for such initiatives to ensure their continued success and impact.

The analysis also revealed a strong emphasis on the need for ongoing efforts for youth development. A colleague’s quote emphasizing the importance of continuous efforts and future planning beyond a single session highlighted the belief that sustained commitment is necessary to bring about long-term positive change for young people. This sentiment underscored the idea that youth development requires continuous investment and attention.

Finally, the analysis emphasized the significance of youth involvement in policy-making. The speakers put forward the viewpoint that “nothing for youth without youth,” indicating the importance of ensuring that young people have a voice in decisions that affect them. Jenna’s perspective on the significance of young people’s voices in decision-making further reinforced the argument for greater inclusion of young people in policy-making processes.

Overall, the analysis revealed a positive sentiment towards youth participation and highlighted the benefits of involving young people in decision-making, supporting youth initiatives, and making ongoing efforts for youth development. These insights underscore the importance of recognizing and empowering the youth population as key contributors to achieving sustainable development goals.

Nadia Tjahja

According to the analysis, there is a growing consensus that youth should have a more significant role in Internet Governance Forums (IGFs). This is because young people have the potential to provide concise, clear, and visible ideas that can greatly contribute to the content and structure of these events. It is believed that involving the youth in IGFs can lead to fresh perspectives, innovative approaches, and effective solutions.

Furthermore, meaningful participation in IGFs requires more than just being present. It involves being well-informed, engaging in consultation, and assuming leadership roles. This concept of meaningful participation is seen as a process that contributes to the constant change in the IGF ecosystem. It is viewed as a way to strengthen the decision-making processes and ensure that all stakeholders, including the youth, have a voice in shaping the Internet governance landscape.

To support the youth in their involvement with IGFs, it is suggested that the IGF should create opportunities that foster their growth and leadership. This can be achieved by working in partnership with the youth to create specific structures and spaces that cater to their needs and interests. Additionally, young people should be given the chance to take on positions as session organizers or collaborate with the IGF Secretariat. These actions would not only enhance youth participation but also contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals related to decent work and economic growth, along with reduced inequalities.

Overall, there is a positive sentiment towards youth involvement and meaningful participation in IGFs. The analysis highlights the potential benefits that can arise from including the youth and emphasizes the need to create an environment that encourages their active engagement and contribution. By embracing the ideas and voices of the youth, IGFs can truly become more inclusive, dynamic, and representative of the diverse perspectives and needs within the Internet governance space.

Pyrate Ruby Passell

Pyrate Ruby, a 14-year-old attendee, is thrilled and proud to be the youngest participant on the IGF youth track. This marks her first time attending the IGF, and she expresses her excitement and pride in being able to contribute at such a young age. She strongly supports the idea of encouraging younger participants in the IGF and similar conventions, highlighting the importance of engaging the youth in discussions about important global issues. Her stance aligns with the goals of SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Having been involved in the IGF environment for over a year, Pyrate finds the experience incredibly gratifying. She has actively participated in the IGF youth track and attended the youth summit, where she has been involved in meaningful work. The opportunity to engage with experts and other young individuals passionate about addressing global challenges has further motivated her.

However, Pyrate does find one aspect of participating in the IGF challenging – the time zone differences. As a result, she often has to stay up late, which she finds amusing but also highlights the dedication and commitment she has towards her involvement in the IGF.

Despite the challenges, Pyrate is delighted to be working with her team. She values the opportunities for collaboration and the shared sense of purpose that comes with working towards a common goal. The sense of camaraderie and teamwork contribute to her positive experience within the IGF environment.

In addition to her involvement in the IGF, Pyrate mentions a newly-formed organization called the Dynamic Teen Coalition. Although limited information is provided, it can be inferred that this organization is relevant to Pyrate’s interests and potentially connected to her work within the IGF environment.

In conclusion, Pyrate Ruby, at just 14 years old, is an enthusiastic and dedicated attendee of the IGF. She not only takes pride in being the youngest participant on the IGF youth track but also advocates for greater youth involvement in such conventions. Through her participation, she finds great fulfillment and enjoys the opportunities for collaboration and teamwork. Furthermore, her positive experience is not limited to the IGF, as she mentions the newly formed Dynamic Teen Coalition, suggesting her involvement in various initiatives aimed at empowering teenage voices.

Veronica Piccolo:
we are going to officially present the second edition of the Youth Atlas. Welcome once again, I’m Veronica Piccolo and I will be the online moderator for this session. Mohamed Ali will be the on-site moderator for this session, Mohamed Ali will be the online moderator for this session and Humud Pararu-Velasquez will be our rapporteur. With me on site I have Anja Gengo from the IGF Secretariat and Nadia Tjahja from EURODIG and online I can see Juliana Novaes. Hello. Juliana is the head of editorial of the Youth Atlas and we will start very soon for this presentation, but just a reminder I would like to request all the speakers and audience who may ask questions during the open floor to please speak clearly at a reasonable pace. I would also like to request everyone participating to maintain a respectful and inclusive environment in the room or in the chat. You can ask questions during the Q&A. If you are on site please approach the microphone, if you are online please raise your hand so that you can be unmuted by the tech and if you have any further questions or comments or would like the moderator to read out your question or comment, please type in the Zoom chat. Without further ado I would like to start the presentation of this book. Some of you might already know this. This book is the second edition of the Youth Atlas and it follows the first edition which was published in 2019 and it collects all the stories of young people actively engaging or working into the internet governance ecosystem. We have been honoured by a forward by Vint Cerf and the preface of Anja Django and this book particularly is divided in four sessions. The first which contains data and statistics about the development of youth engagement over these two or three years. Then we have a first session which we call the veterans with all the interviews of people engaging in internet governance for three or more years. Then we have the section for newcomers and in the end we also have a section dedicated to all youth programs. In this regard I would like to quickly give the floor to Juliana to explain us a little bit about the content and findings of the book. Thank you.

Juliana Novaes:
Thank you so much Veronica. First of all thank you very much for coming to this session today. Unfortunately I’m not in Japan this time. It’s around 6 a.m here but I can feel the energy in the room and I’m happy to be with you in spirit if not in person. I would also like to thank the Youth SIG from ISOC for having me as a collaborator of this project again of the second edition of the Youth Atlas and especially for Veronica for all the effort that she put into this project. So thank you so much for this. So about the Youth Atlas, Veronica rightly mentioned this is the second edition of first book that we launched back in 2019 as part of the Youth ICG from ISOC and the idea came from a conversation that we were having with some people that had previously participated in fellowship programs to attend the IGF such as the ISOC fellowship program, the Brazilian fellowship program and other ones and we were always saying how there were always moments in which the organizations that fund these kind of programs wonder exactly what are the results that come from these initiatives. So basically what happens to the young people after they join the IGF and they participate in these kind of events. So essentially what’s the outcome of the investment that they are doing in these young people and we all know as former participants that there are many success stories out there. We all know people who first joined an IGF and then got a position at some organization or started their PhD on the topic or then started working for the government or some kind of multilateral entity. So we all know these success stories but we didn’t have at the time any kind of documentation or formal record of the young people who had previously participated in this program so it was very hard to measure the impact of them in the lives of young people after they joined the IGF. So this is how the idea of the first edition of the first Youth Atlas started. So we decided it was time to record the results of the young people and their trajectories after they joined their IGF and show the importance that these fellowship programs had in their lives and the importance of maintaining them, maintaining these young people in the IGF ecosystem. Also to show some of the difficulties that they faced as young people joining internet governance for the first time and continuing their trajectory in this field as well because I mean a lot of improvement has been made in terms of youth representation in the IGF in the past years but it hasn’t always been that inclusive. So it was hard in the past to get sessions approved at the IGF if you were part of a youth organization. It was always hard to get funding to attend the IGF as well. It still is but it was way harder back then than it is now so it was also a project to show how some of these difficulties remain in our ecosystem for young people. So then we made the first edition of this book and we had very limited budget at the time and also very limited time. We put the whole book together in less than three months and launched it at the IGF Berlin 2019 and now I’m so happy to see that this second edition which now shows not only the trajectories of people that had been previously in the IGF ecosystem but also the newcomers so we can see a contrast between the people who have been joining these events for over three years and the people who are just joining now. So what are the differences in their hopes and their expectations in the challenges that they face and I mean without going much further into this I also think it’s important to mention that this book has only been made possible with the hands of several people. A lot of volunteers who have worked hard in editing text, doing interviews and putting their own free time into this initiative as it often happens with youth initiatives. We often work on a volunteer basis using our free time to do this so I just wanted to show my appreciation for all the volunteers that have collaborated with us and also to the people that actually participated in our surveys and interviews entering our questionnaire. A lot of things in our IG ecosystem are the product of volunteer work so we’re also very proud to say that every single person that has contributed to this project has been credited there so I would just like to personally thank them so much for making this possible. And of course this is a book which aims to give visibility to you as a young person and to me as a young person as well and give us credit for all the work we have done since we started participating in the IG ecosystem. We want to build a healthier culture and internet governance, a more collaborative culture in which people have more freedom to to participate in initiatives and we have the power to do this as young people and we hope that this book is a source of pride and is a source of inspiration for young people either joining the internet governance ecosystem now or who have been here for a long time now and we hope that this helps foster more initiatives such as this and it helps to empower more young people in our field. And in saying this I would like to thank you all again and I hope you’re all enjoying the IGF in Japan.

Veronica Piccolo:
Thank you Giuliana. I’m particularly sensitive in this moment. This was a very hard work and as Giuliana pointed out it was mainly on a volunteering basis and we put our time into this book, our free time into this book and it might not be perfect so you might also come across some mistakes, some typos and errors but I think that this is the token of cooperation, of international cooperation. We had people working on this from Brazil, from Africa, from Europe and we had an amazing support from our friends from Japan because this book is the product of the work of many hands and I’m very proud to present this at the IGF but this also was printed in Japan so it was also very representative of our global meeting here and what this IGF is meant for us. But I know that this book has attracted a lot of attention. Maybe online you don’t know this but I already have some copies reserved from people who came to me asking to have a copy of this and at the end of this session we will distribute, we will have a picture with all people featured in this book who are also here at the IGF and we will distribute these copies to them and also to the people attending but I would also give the possibility to Anja to come in and first of all I would like to thank you for the time you took also to write your preface for our book and from you I would like to know since 2019 when the first edition was published how the work of the IGF secretariat evolved to support young people because most of the people also present here they were not even able to know how the youth summit was even created so thank you.

Anja Gengo:
I hope you can hear me. Thanks to precisely a wonderful methodology of our host country we hosted together with young people from around the world webinars that had thousands and thousands of young people from different parts of the world joining. That was really a game changer for the youth track and in general for the youth engagement. In Poland we hosted the youth summit it was I think the well second edition within the youth track but certainly it was there were other editions organized by different youth IGFs at the annual IGF meetings so the youth summit was in Poland good opportunity to create space for a dialogue between senior experts and leaders with of the current generation and then the next generation of experts and leaders and we follow that practice. Of course we work on polishing the format making sure that we are creating just simpler easier entry points channels for young people that can decide to just jump on our train and then ride with us toward hopefully a safer digital future. In Ethiopia last year we continued the practice we the secretariat was satisfied with the level of engagement with young people this certainly the process there went further from organizing a couple of sessions to ensuring that we have a robust mechanism throughout the year so we worked very closely with the regional IGFs to organize capacity development workshops and to ensure that we have our presence not just at one annual meeting given the fact that we are limited in time we are challenged by time zones and so on but that we have presence at the regional IGFs to maximize our inclusion opportunities. Grateful to the regional IGFs to the youth regional IGFs for being our great partners to work on organizing and implementing capacity development workshops there. This year for example we managed to tour the globe in just a couple of months span from Finland Tampere we went to Cartagena in Colombia then to Brisbane in Australia then to Abuja in Nigeria all thanks to EuroDIG thanks to Asia Pacific IGF thanks to LAC IGF the youth LAC IGF the African IGF and the youth associated IGF and then finally after so many discussions conclusions agreements but I’ll say also disagreements great ideas shared we met here in Kyoto and you know that on Sunday I think all of you have seen that I’ve seen you there we held a very successful IGF 2023 global youth summit organized by all youth IGFs and many other initiatives which are youth centered and that work closely with with all of us it’s a result of year-long preparations so nothing is an instant result it really is a product of hard work and I have to admit a wonderful energy I have a pleasure to work with colleagues coming from the youth IGFs not an easy work for sure but you always regardless of how much time you spend how much just intellectual effort you invest how much physical effort it takes these are time-consuming processes you’re challenged with time zones so sometimes you’re sleep deprived but it’s such a wonderful energy that exists among the youth IGF coordinators that you just don’t feel the fatigue and you just feel that enthusiasm that regardless of the environment that is surrounding us now geopolitical tensions you’ll see wars around us you see people losing lives you see the dark side of the internet victims of online frauds many online abuses and still working with young people most of a lot of them digital natives people growing up with technologies just understanding them because they don’t have other choice it really gives not just hope it gives confidence that our future analog or digital is very much bright as long as we have you empowered to lead us toward it and the IGF secretariat is committed to continue working with all of you we will definitely add this wonderful Quo Vadis youth second edition of the youth atlas to our library and I’m sure it will be consulted so many times many of the faces here that you see are our dear colleagues and friends but many are new so I’m looking forward to meet you all here toward the closing of the 18th annual IGF meeting in Kyoto but also of course online we’re lucky to be connected through the means of the internet and let’s please use it and finally to conclude I want to thank all of you for being here at the 18th annual IGF meeting I can I think we can say that from the youth perspective from the way you channeled your voices and from the way it was heard it was a great success and it wouldn’t be a success if it wasn’t for your commitment for your dedication to allocate time efforts and ideas to these processes the IGF secretariat is truly grateful to all of you for that and thank you very much for inviting me

Veronica Piccolo:
thank you Anja I think a lot has been done so far since we have been we have gone a long way since 2019 we have experienced firsthand that a lot of youth IGF initiative have been set up in the last year we have here Emilia as well as trained one has helped set up the youth IGF in Ethiopia after Addis Ababa last year so we could actually work on this initiative ourself and I think that the global engagement of young people to empower them each other it’s it’s a great example to go to to give to senior stakeholders I know that you have to go I would like to take a picture with you This is a gift from all of us. Thank you for your support. Thank you so much. It’s such a great honor. Thank you. This is my signed version. It was a signed version.

Anja Gengo:
And just colleagues, I really have to apologize. I would wish that I could stay here because I know there will be a wonderful discussion. But as you know, the Secretariat needs to wrap up this meeting and prepare for the closing. All the reports need to be on the website in the next half an hour. Some of them are on my computer. So I have to deliver on that. But thank you so much. Let us please connect. And after the closing ceremony, I will be around. So I would really appreciate if you could approach, if you have a couple of minutes just to chat and exchange contacts and to understand how you found this year’s IGF and when is your IGF so we can come there. It’s always easier to be at someone else’s IGF and just enjoy the discussions. Thank you so much. If you have a copy of the Atlas that is signed, please do give it back to me. I think that’s my version. Thank you so much.

Veronica Piccolo:
Let’s move forward because we also have another guest. Talking about IGF attendance and the first-comer, Pirate Ruby is 14 years old, is a teenager who last year attended for the first time his first IGF. And being the only teenager, she was wondering, there are a lot of young people, but not everyone is actually real young. So I would like to give the floor to Pirate. Pirate, are you online? Yes, I am. Hello. Let me just get my camera on.

Pyrate Ruby Passell:
Hello. It’s nice to meet you all today. I’m so happy and so proud I’m able to attend this today. It has been such an honor working as the youngest person in the IGF youth track at 14, and it’s so exciting.

Veronica Piccolo:
Thank you, Pirate, for being here. And thank you for borrowing your face and your experience to this book. Your experience, your interview is also contained in our book. But my question to you is, how is it to be a teenager in the IGF environment? And you joined the IGF one year ago, attending the youth summit for the first time. And since then, I know that you have worked a lot in this environment. Give me one highlight of the work that you have done so far.

Pyrate Ruby Passell:
Well, I think it’s personally been great. But one of the things that I’ve noticed is that due to the time zones, I always have to be up a bit late, which is not a problem. But I think it’s a bit funny. Anyways, I’m so happy to be working with all of you. To be honest, all of this is a highlight for me, and I’m so happy and proud to be working with all of you. Thank you.

Veronica Piccolo:
What is the main, let’s say, activity that you would like to share with the audience today? The activity that you care the most. I know that you have done a lot this year. And for example, you are one of the founders of the Teen Dynamic Coalition. Can you tell us a little bit more about this?

Pyrate Ruby Passell:
Well, recently, the Dynamic Teen Coalition, it’s newly came out, so there’s not too much information on it yet. So hopefully in the future, there will be more to learn about that. But it’s just recently opened.

Veronica Piccolo:
Thank you. Thank you, Pirate. I think that your experience and your example are very important to engage young people that are really young, that are really teenagers. And I’m very proud to get to work with you, and I’m very happy to have you in our team and to have your interview. Pirate’s profile is one of the highlights. And in the book, you will also find a QR code in one of the introductory articles written by Stacey. She’s Pirate’s mother, with Stacey’s playlist on Spotify. One aspect I would like to highlight about this book is that we have the printed copy, but we also have a digital copy. And you will find a QR code that you can scan and also watch video interviews of some of our people that we were able to interview, and a QR code to Pirate’s playlist. So many thanks, Pirate. Speaking of the evolution that young people have gone through this past year, I would like to pass the floor to Nadia. So the first youth summit was held in Germany. I think you were there. No, you were not there. But I know that you have worked a lot in the European community to empower new generation. And some of them have actually remained in this environment. And I know that also your research focus is on youth engagement. Would you like to give us some highlight on this?

Nadia Tjahja:
Hello, everyone. Thank you all so much for coming to this extremely important session. And I also just would like to add my congratulations to everybody who worked really hard on this and all the people who supported and sponsored this publication. It shows the effort, the interest, the engagement that young people have to be involved in these spaces and the different ways and methods that we try to be involved. And I think that is really important and it is really difficult to map because some things are very invisible. And through this beautiful publication, some of these things that are happening behind the scenes, some of these things that you may never have known about them existing on a wider scale have come to light in front of this. And another example of invisible things that you may not have known is that Veronica also actually organized with a really large team of international youth an event during this IGF to bring youth together to exchange ideas, exchange their experiences, but also make new friendships for further collaborations so that in a few years there will be a new youth atlas with people who are from this IGF working on new projects together. And for this reason, I think it’s really admirable that this has come out from it. I wasn’t there at the youth summit in Germany and the reason why I ended up not being there is because I was excited to see what information was going to come out from those sessions. I knew what was going to be there. I could have been there in the room, but what I wanted to see is the youth coming into the IGF and listening how youth would actually be presenting their ideas. If you already know what’s going to happen, sometimes you tune a little bit out. There’s a lot of information going on at the IGF and you need to focus. But what I loved about the youth summit is it allowed people for an empowered message. They came into the rooms in a group, they discussed with each other what they wanted to say, they planned how they wanted to say it. Their thoughts and ideas were concise, clear, and visible. Being part of something where we can support each other, standing at a microphone can be extremely intimidating. When you don’t know anyone in the room, you’re there for the first time, you’ve never been to this country before. This is my first time in Japan and I’m not wearing sleeves and everybody is and I feel very self-conscious about that. Would I then still want to be on a microphone, et cetera? But I feel supported. I feel that I am here with people who are kind and open and that allows me to speak more of what’s on my thoughts and on my mind and I hope that we can then continue fostering this continuation of participation that is supported by our peers through activities like this and bringing in new people from these spaces, from our local communities. This is why I started looking at how we could have meaningful participation at the Internet Governance Forum. I’m a Ph.D. researcher at the United Nations University and I’m based in Bruges but I also coordinate youth activities for the European Regional IGF, which is called EURODIG, and our event is called the Youth Dialogue on Internet Governance. If you live in Europe and you would like to attend, our application is open in January. The most important thing I would like to say is that meaningful participation, we hear that word so many times, the United Nations Secretary General added it in his Our Common Agenda, the UN Youth Envoy wrote a paper on meaningful participation and I wanted to know what is meaningful participation at the IGF? The IGF strategy does not give a definition of this. When we look at the outcomes from the IGF, we see how many people are attending, the stakeholders, etc. It’s numbers. Who’s here? Presence. Or who’s represented? Your affiliation. And does that say enough about you as a youth? Youth that has so many definitions based on age, based on your status as a newcomer or not, based on how far you are in your career track. There are so many different ways. So the definition that I chose to use was adopted from a paper from Malcolm which looked at processes. How can we make sure that processes include youth inclusion, integration? And I created a framework that looked at how do we participate? Because we always say, you know, when you’re here, you need to do X, Y, Z, and then you’re part. But are you really then part of the community, just being here, making a comment, making a statement, per se? I believe that we’re an ecosystem. And an ecosystem consists both of content and structure. And I believe that when you come here for the first time, there’s a lot of information coming at you and you’re being informed. That is a way of learning not only the content of this event but also the structure of how things work. When do you get to be on the microphone? Who gets to speak? At what point can you walk into the room? So right now, someone could walk into the room and I’m not offended by it. So then you also have a moment of consultation. So you’re learning something, but then you’re like, hey, I have a different perspective about that. Or I am really not sure about that point. Can you clarify that? You then take the microphone and you comment and you consult, you add to the conversation and debate. And as you go along, there will be moments and opportunities in which youth then will take on leadership positions. Either you become a session organizer and then you work with a large group or a small group of people to provide content and structure to further debates. Or perhaps you start collaborating with the IGF Secretariat to create structures like the Youth Summit to work in partnership with the IGF to foster youth spaces. And this ecosystem can go up and down. So at one moment in time, you’re still being informed. So you could walk out in the next session and you’re a speaker at the other table. Or you can walk out of the session as a speaker now, like I am now, and then I’ll be sitting in an audience somewhere and learning. It’s an ecosystem. And when we then look at participation at the IGF, I am asking you to look at it as a process. So when we’re saying we’re going to invite 30 young people, and 30 young people means that there’s participation, I’m asking you to think of it as a process. When you’re inviting young people to your table, to your events, think about it as a process. They’re coming in. What are they learning? What are they contributing? How can they start moving into being an empowered person into leadership roles? But how can we ensure their sustainable participation, whether that’s a continuous flow or the return of participants? And I’m very excited to continue this discussion because it’s certainly meaningful participation isn’t just this one framework. There’s so many different ways of approaching it. And having these open conversations about it is definitely the way forward of how we can ensure that we are leaving nobody behind. Thank you very much.

Veronica Piccolo:
Thank you, Anja. I really appreciate, actually, the concept, Nadia. I really particularly appreciate the concept of youth participation as a process because it’s not enough that a young person actually participate, speak on the microphone and talk, ask questions, and formulate comment, but also a matter of engaging on an ongoing basis also with the community of like-minded people. And I think that since 2019, we have gone a long way, but the title of this book is Covadis Youth, meaning where are you going, youth? So my question for Jenna here would be, how do you see the future of young people?

Jenna Fung:
Thank you. Thank you, Veronica, and everyone in this room to welcome me and allow me to be in this position and share my thoughts. I kind of want to start off something because I think Nadia helped us with delivering some institutional knowledge, memories, as well as touching on a little bit on how we should envision youth participation. So that first thing I really want to point out is that we, as youth, should really put ourselves out there and to be on the same table as everyone. That I mean, like literally, I wish we all are at the same table because most of you are behind me right now, and it’s kind of weird that I’m looking at myself in the back of that projector. So I mean, if you’re not too busy and if you don’t mind, I hope that you guys can move to the table because I feel very awkward when there’s like no one and I have to be the only person speaking is really my own problem. And yeah. I don’t know how many of you have been here. I would say I’m fortunate enough to be here for like my sixth time now, and unfortunately I think kind of old enough to, you know, it’s time to back out because you need to allow and make the space available for newcomers, which we have a lot. Consider I am, well, I haven’t introduced myself actually, consider I am the program coordinator of the Asia Pacific Youth IGF with a lot of different mechanism working groups set up by all the youth and youth IGF from my region, for example. They are coming in very consistently, energetically, passionately, and so we should be prepared and then at least like first thing, not to be shunned, to sit at a table, get yourself prepared to contribute. But it takes time, one step at a time, and I think it’s really important for me, and I hope it’s important for everyone as well to hear from someone like Nadia to learn about the institutional knowledge, and I think this is really important, and I only get to think about it like 30 minutes ago, because Nadia is one of the first person in the youth space that I met. I met her 2018 in Paris, and well, I get so lost, or maybe I can test it out, like how many of you have been here before, not in Kyoto, but like been to IGF before, can you raise your hand? So not too many, let me try to overwhelm you with all the acronyms, or maybe I don’t need to try, like what is Dynamic Coalition, or what is NRI, not all of us know, but in order to participate, these are really important, and so I think it’s extremely crucial for people who have been in this place for a long time, like long enough at least, to proactively work with the youth community, that includes the veteran or dynamic coalitions or the national and regional initiative that might be your own country’s IGF or your own country’s YIGF because that’s where you that’s where you’re from sometimes and you know you start from a safe space before you have to got to put yourself out there and be fearless sometimes like it takes time so and this year I am fortunate enough that I was invited to one of the DC I mean dynamic coalition sorry about that so sorry about the acronym and that dynamic coalition for example cares about child rights in digital environment and they are really interested in working with us and I appreciate that because finally all those spaces in IGF would want to work with us and sometimes even people who’ve been here for like more than 20 years did not know that there is such global youth submit that’s happened since 2019 and then when they think we need to do capacity building and they they might how the approaches is that they might start from scratch by consulting all the stakeholder how should we do capacity building without without really working with the youth and so I hope that since we have a really big and strong team put yourself out there let them know we work so closely with IGF Secretariat specifically Anya to put this youth track together and we have a youth summit every time and I hope that we will continue to have and next is what will that go rather than just doing full workshop in different regions plus this summit I hope that we can all bring this and you know football thought bring it home and think what can we do other than just this five session because I believe ongoing and ongoing effort is even more important than a one time one hour session like this and I would like to quote some and quote a phrase from my colleague actually look tail was on a table he he was helping with the Asia Pacific youth IGF this year in Brisbane and then the team behind it actually work on a lot in designing the program that is truly all going I mean all of us do that to be fair they are truly organized by you for youth and if we were to work with other stakeholder I hope that we should send out a message and let them know that nothing for youth without you that’s it thank you

Veronica Piccolo:
thank you thank you Jenna. I actually I agree with you that if I have to take some some take away from from what Nadia said or what you said I think that handover of knowledge is very important I mean it’s very important to have in this system a person is with a veteran who can transmit knowledge and can actually you know mentor young people because it is not easy to for a young person to be mentored by a more senior stakeholder because of gap in communication while a young person can see in a person in a young in appear like a someone who can actually trust and I see a lot of newcomers here and I know that you have been also accompanied by other young people that have been here in the in this ecosystem for a few years and have been able to guide you in in some way we have ten minutes left but in I would like to have like fee five or seven minutes before the group picture to give the floor to a newcomer I won’t call name but if someone of you wants to come out to the microphone and yes yes

Audience:
good afternoon everyone so I’m a newcomer to IGF I’m felt I’m from Brazil Brazilian youth delegation and I was reached by an veteran in Brazil Davi he isn’t in this edition of the IGF and it was really nice of him to make me aware of the youth program there and we just sat side-by-side he helped me to sign the the application form and all that stuff and that really changed my entire career so I’m I studied communications so in Brazil it’s kind of study area that is not that into internet governance and I think it’s funny because I seen from the outside I see that internet governance has a lot to to how could I say that a lot to move on with communication studies and communication strategies to reach more people to make more youth youth people from all around the world aware of that and how we can make those spaces not only for us to watch them but but to actually participate so as part of the Brazilian youth delegation we are a lot of people right here right now I’m really really proud to see those actions like this youth atlas and how we are being here we’re in from different different backgrounds of studies of areas of working and taking these spaces especially being from the South or left late in America so it’s really nice to be here and to see space to talk in those spaces and to reach each other and know other regions from around the globe and exchange some points of views thank you

Veronica Piccolo:
thank you for sharing your experience I think that for all of us it’s very important to know that and to remind us that we have been newcomer as well and for us has been overwhelming as well anyone else wants to come in Denise

Audience:
okay yes but I’m also from from Brazil and I am a former fellow from the Brazilian youth program and I am happy for being here and for watch all the youth initiatives and I also would like to highlight the the thing one thing which is we had a lot of sessions these years this year which were proposed by youth young people we had this big group where we’ve organized lots and lots of proposals and we’ve sent it and we’ve made it until here and we’ve occupied the space and made our voices heard which is very very important I’m also part of the youth Latin American Caribbean IGF I can’t I have to say it because my friends are there and looking at me like remember you have to say it so we have a long way to include all the people that we need to include and also in the youth Latin American Caribbean IGF and also here I think we need more voices from indigenous people and also people with disability and other minorities so I want to be I want to make this a point so that we can we can work on it for the next events and not only IGF but our events in our countries and thank you for all the work we have done until here think thank you thank thank for all of you and also for myself yes let’s keep doing the nice work and don’t be sad when a session is not full of people be brave keep going and if even if you are nervous your voice need to be heard even if you make little mistakes on your English pronunciation keep going everyone young people must be heard and we must keep doing our job our work here

Veronica Piccolo:
thank you thank you is there okay we have only five minutes left I just wanted to thank you everyone for coming in I just want to take this five minutes I don’t know if anyone wants to come in I just okay one minute one minute

Audience:
hi Zon Khan former youth ambassador at ISOC I just wanted to really quickly come in as I’m not exactly a newcomer but I’m not exactly a veteran either and I think perspective in the middle is probably really helpful because I was on the exact position where you know all of you are sitting right now and to come from there my first ever IGF where I knew absolutely nothing and I was not part of any youth program and I knew absolutely no one and showed up to having made a lot of potentially lifelong connections with not only individuals who are experts and academics and technicians in the space but also lifelong friends and to take your ideas and interventions from when you first start to the point where for example two days ago the work that I along with other people was involved with the policy network in internet fragmentation was being presented in the main hall to go from nothing to that it just shows you that youth participation can in fact be meaningful and I want to strongly echo the point that even if nobody’s there in your session or even if you don’t know anyone or don’t know anything the learning curve is always going to be there people are always going to be there to support and I really really want to thank everyone who has been involved in that development journey and I want to make sure that I can give back as well so I’m always happy to be reached out to and thank you to Nadia and Veronica who have worked with personally they’ve done an amazing job of teaching me the ropes and hopefully moving forward with the youth programs as well and thanks to everyone who’s actually been involved in youth programs as well because they are very very impactful so that’s what I wanted to say thanks

Veronica Piccolo:
thank you I just want to take another minute I know that there is another person who wants to come in he’s not she’s not actually a newcomer but I would like to give the floor to her

Audience:
thanks Veronica can you hear me hi everyone I’m definitely not a newcomer but I feel like the the different youth participation programs I IGF is very special for me because I came in 2018 in the in the coldest European winter really nervous having no idea what to do how to do it my colleague back then didn’t get her visa I was thrown into a BPF session where I was a panelist I mumbled a lot I still regret that recording but my point is yeah the idea is to keep going these programs help me make connections lifelong friends and they all kind of build fruition into me having a career in the space I work on a lot of different IG issues but it’s all because of the different working groups the different speaking sessions I have become a public speaker in so many different for us and I do owe it to a lot of the different participations writing sessions late-night sessions conversations with so many of you here thank you yeah for all of your support and so many other people who have been there but my my whole point is that you should take all of these things seriously and things do increment it takes time it builds time but also people should also understand is that our space is getting more relevant issues of privacy AI or any other issue that you want to work on will grow over time there are there’s more money being poured in and it is a viable career option for a lot of you so never give up and we are the future thank you

Veronica Piccolo:
I just want to point your attention to the screen you will see a query code to our digital version of the youth atlas people those who are on site will have the privilege to get a copy of the printed book and but before closing the session I would really like the young people who are here on site who are featured in this book to come here and take the picture and to take your copy of the atlas and thank you everyone for attending this thank you also for a participants online and to Mohammed for sharing everything okay let’s go in front of the screen I want your signs please everyone in front of the screen thank you I would borrow one as a photo