IN THE global information society, young people are often the leading
innovators in the use and spread of information and communications
technologies (ICTs). Increasingly, youth are adapting and using these
technologies (including, for example, telephone, fax, radio, television,
film, computers, and the Internet) to meet local information and communication
needs.
The Young Volunteers for Sustainable Development (YVSD), in partnership
with Taking IT Global and the Youth Creating Digital Opportunities
Network, is organizing a national youth forum on the information society
and the role of ICT for sustainable development with the theme "Youth
Charting the Future of the Information Society".
The event aims to strengthen and broaden the engagement of young
people in the Philippines to the preparations around the United Nations
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and to develop a national
youth network and strategy on the information society. Likewise, the
dialogue builds the capacity of youth in the country to articulate
and influence policy on ICT for development.
Scheduled on April 1-3, 2003 at the Asian Development Bank (ADB),
the forum will bring together more than 100 young leaders to deliver
a declaration and action plan from a series of thematic workshops
and roundtable discussions on diverse WSIS agenda that are significant
to and impacts the youth. Topics include ICTs' role in advancing gender
equality, bridging the digital divide, preserving human rights, protecting
the environment, globalization of trade, governance and others. Resource
speakers invited are from government, civil society, private sector,
international development agencies, and other stakeholders in the
information society. International speakers will also deliver lectures
on diverse issues via a videoconference provided by ADB.
Interested participants, aged 17-30, are enjoined to submit a short
essay of about 500 words on the theme "What is my vision of the
Information Society?" together with their name, contact details,
and school/organization/company no later than March 10, 2003. A conference
fee of P500 will be required to cover food, conference kit and a CD
containing all the dialogue proceedings. A limited number of fellowships,
covering travel and accommodation subsidies, will be given to delegates
based outside Metro Manila. The participants will be, but not limited
to, active young people engaged and/or interested in ICT for development
issues such as running radio programs, open source software projects,
access centers or telecenters and small ICT businesses and ICT policy.
Youth leaders are also highly encouraged to attend.
The 1st World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) will be held
in Geneva, in December 2003, organized by the United Nations. It seeks
to provide a framework for governments, non-government organizations
(NGOs), companies and others to address the following question: What
values and actions do we embrace to ensure that the Information Society
becomes a vehicle for democracy, justice, equality, and respect for
personal and social development?
YVSD is a growing network of young people working towards sustainable
development through volunteerism and local community action in the
Philippines. YVSD serves as a unifying platform for young people to
make a contribution towards post-World Summit on Sustainable Development
follow-up work. Programs and activities are people- and partnership-based
with development impact. Current initiatives revolve around integrated
water resources management, sustainable forest use and responsible
consumption. YVSD likewise serves as UNESCO's National Focal Point
for Youth in the Philippines for the 2003 International Year of Freshwater.
To learn more, send e-mail to Tony de la Cruz at wsisyouth_phil[at]hotmail[dot]com
or call 0916-4374258. For WSIS information, check www.wsis.org.
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