THE APPLICATION period for the forum "Youth Charting the Future
of the Information Society" has been extended until May 15, 2003.
This event is being organized by the Young Volunteers for Sustainable
Development (YVSD) in partnership with Taking IT Global and the Youth
Creating Digital Opportunities Network, 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). Likewise, the dialogue builds the capacity of youth in the
country to articulate and influence policy on ICT for development
by developing a national youth network and strategy on the information
society.
Scheduled for June 23-25, 2003 at the Asian Development Bank (ADB),
the forum will bring together about 150 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. A conference fee of P1,000 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.
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 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.
Interested parties may inquire or send their applications 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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