By Muhammed Bello Buhari | February 23, 2024
In our ongoing efforts to champion the participation and leadership of marginalised youth in Internet Governance, we facilitated a session at IGF 2023 in Kyoto, Japan, titled “Criss-cross of Digital Margins for Effective Inclusion.” Conducted in a hybrid format and moderated by our Technical Support, Rachad Sanoussi and our Communications Lead, Hanna Pishchyk, the session spotlighted Tatiana HOUNDJO, Pavel Farhan, Jaewon Son, and Mohammad Atif Aleem – young experts from diverse nations and sectors, sharing their profound insights in enhancing digital inclusion and meaningful participation of underrepresented youth. In this blog, we highlight key take-aways from this crucial discussion, our Impact Report Launch/Awards, and our DIGRA Booth.
Mohammad Atif Aleem: Enabling Comprehensive Digital Inclusion Through Collective Action
Through a wide lens that spanned across digital challenges and collaborative strategies, Atif brought attention to Google’s Internet Saathi program in India, illustrating how collaborations between corporations and governments can enhance digital outreach, especially within underrepresented communities. Talking about universal access, he underscored the multifaceted nature of digital inclusion, highlighting the imperative of synergy where access and digital literacy walk hand in hand to truly bridge the digital divide and provide enabling opportunities to exercise digital citizenship for marginalised groups.
Jaewon Son: Balancing Cultural Nuances with Youth Participation in Internet Governance
Jaewon navigated through the cultural and societal landscapes that often sideline youth, particularly in the context of Internet Governance in Korea. She shed light on a paradox where, despite technological advancement in her country, the youth’s contributions are often marginalised due to deeply ingrained cultural narratives and expectations. Emphasizing the critical role of multi-stakeholder approach in Internet Governance, Jaewon noted that the a shift from mere participation to a youth leadership is a pivotal aspect of effective digital inclusion, ensuring that youth contributions permeate through the cultural and societal fabrics that have traditionally hindered their meaningful participation.
Tatiana HOUNDJO: Women at the Forefront of Sustainable Digital Inclusion
While recognizing the strides towards gender inclusivity and female empowerment within the digital narrative, Tatiana emphasised that the momentum must be sustained and intensified ensuring that women are active shapers and decision-makers in the digital ecosystem. She spotlighted the ‘Bénin DNS Women’ project, showcasing a concerted effort towards ensuring female leadership within Internet Governance discussions and decision-making processes. Tatiana also highlighted the importance of internet access, not just as a tool for connectivity but as a catalyst for socio-economic enhancement, especially within marginalised communities.
Pavel Farhan: Academia as a Catalyst in Bridging the Divide
Pavel highlighted the stark realities of the digital divide prevalent in rural areas, with an example of his home country of Bangladesh. The lack of robust internet infrastructure, prohibitive costs, and a significant lack of digital literacy stood out as monumental barriers that often affect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Meanwhile, his emphasis on the pivotal role of academic institutions advancing youth leadership in Internet Governance. Pavel advocated for a more robust integration of Internet Governance education within academic curricula and stressed the importance of nurturing a digital leadership ethos among students.
Impact Report Launch/Awards
We also celebrated five years of empowering young people globally through our Impact Report launched at the IGF led by DIGRA’s technical support, Rachad Sanoussi. The report “Unstoppable Together,” is a testament to the collective impact we’ve carried out over the course of our five years of existence in building future internet leaders by proactively engaging over 230 young people from underrepresented communities in over 65 countries globally while cumulatively facilitating over 190 community engagement projects in addressing internet-related issues in their communities through digital literacy, networking, and activism. This 5-year Impact Report chronicles Digital Grassroots’ journey of increasing digital citizenship on Internet governance and digital rights among youth from underrepresented communities globally from inception in December 2017 till date.
In addition to launching the Impact Report, DIGRA recognized outstanding community members for their contributions. Nancy Wachira, Grace Zawuki, and Stanley Junior Bernard were honored for their advocacy in bridging the digital divide, fostering collaboration, and promoting digital literacy. Their dedication exemplifies DIGRA’s commitment to empowering youth and building a more inclusive digital future.
DIGRA Booth
In addition to the sessions, Digital Grassroots had a booth at the IGF Village. The booth was organized by our Technical Support, Rachad Sanoussi, and served as a networking and candy station. We displayed several items at the booth including our 5-year Impact Report.
Charting the Path Towards Intersectional Digital Inclusion and Participation
The reflections and narratives shared during the session underscore the multifaceted challenges and opportunities inherent in the pursuit of intersectional digital inclusion and participation. Crafting a future where the digital landscape is not only accessible but is also shaped by every voice, particularly those from marginalised youth, requires a harmonised, ongoing, and inclusive effort.
The insights from our IGF 2023 panelists offer valuable perspectives in understanding and navigating the complexities of achieving authentic digital inclusion and participative Internet Governance. Learn more about the speakers and watch the full session here.