Contributors : Jeremy and Ri Na

What is the Internet Society and IGF Youth Ambassador Program?

The Internet Society is a global charity organization empowering people to keep the Internet a force for good: open, globally-connected, secure, and trustworthy. Annually, the Internet Society organizes the ISOC IGF Youth Ambassador Program to empower the next generation of Internet leaders. Each year, fifteen passionate youth ambassadors are selected for this program, empowering them to collaborate and innovate toward creating a more inclusive and advanced world. These aspiring youth ambassadors also have the chance to participate in a significant Internet event in regard to their preferences, profile, and location. The chosen ambassadors are also equipped with advocacy, communication, project management, and leadership skills. They will also have a chance to connect and collaborate with influential Internet stakeholders across the world and will benefit from mentorship by key leaders and experts. Young people aged between 18 to 30 with good English proficiency can apply for this program. The minimum commitment time for this program is 4 hours per week, and the overall duration extends to approximately 10 months. The chosen ambassadors will also have a chance to participate in global Internet events such as the United Nations Internet Governance Forum, RightsCon, and the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG), and Africa Internet Governance Forum (ArIGF). 

The selection process for this program is a two-phase procedure. The initial phase is online application and the chosen applicants for phase one will have to take the Internet Governance course. The second phase focuses on top-scoring applicants, about 15 highest-rated applicants will be selected as ISOC Youth Ambassadors. The General Information of the Internet Society Youth Ambassador Program can be seen at the given link: https://www.internetsociety.org/policy-programs/youth-ambassadors/

Engagement at IGF 2023

The selected youth ambassadors will have a chance to attend various Internet events across the world. Among them, the general information of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum 2023 will be explained here.

IGF (The Internet Governance Forum) is one of the most important forums in the field of Internet policy, where diverse stakeholders discuss a wide range of issues related to the Internet on an equal footing under the auspices of the United Nations. The first annual meeting of IGF was held in 2006. The 18th IGF meeting was held in Kyoto, Japan, under the overall theme of “Internet We Want Empowering All People”. The meeting will feature approximately 300 sessions organized by a diverse range of stakeholders to discuss a variety of Internet issues.

The IGF encompasses a diverse array of key activities structured around 300 Internet governance-related sessions. These sessions are divided into various sub-themes such as AI and Emerging Technologies, Avoiding Internet Fragmentation, Cybersecurity, Cybercrime, and Online Safety, Data Governance and Trust, Digital Divides and Inclusion, Global Digital Governance and Cooperation, Human Rights and Freedoms, as well as Sustainability and Environment. Additionally, the IGF village serves as a dynamic platform for numerous companies to showcase and introduce state-of-the-art technologies related to the Internet.

What is next?

The 19th Internet Governance Forum will be held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 15 to 19 December 2024. The general information for the United Nations Internet Governance Forum can be found here: https://www.intgovforum.org/en.

Connect with Youth IGF Myanmar on Mailing List: https://mail.intgovforum.org/mailman/listinfo/myanmaryouthcommunity_intgovforum.org

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