By Raylenne Kambua
The youth session at the East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF) 2024, dubbed “Empowering the Youth in POLICY Making for a People-Centred Digital Future,” was a vibrant and insightful gathering of youthful voices advocating for their rightful place in shaping the region’s digital landscape.
The session, moderated by Jesse Nathan, Co-Founder of Uganda Youth IGF and EAIGF, focused on promoting youth involvement in digital policymaking.
The objective of this session was to ensure that digital futures in East Africa reflect inclusivity, innovation, and youth-centric values and policies.
This session underscored the need for young people to actively participate in digital policymaking processes while staying consistent in grabbing the present opportunities.
While it is appreciated that the youth are making strides in such engagements, it became evident in the forum that many are still unaware of the platforms and opportunities that exist to influence policy.
To address this gap, the forum highlighted the importance of awareness campaigns among more youths. Such initiatives will educate more youth about existing governance structures and how they can make their voices heard in Internet Governance discussions.
Mr Barrack Otieno, one of the keynote speakers emphasized, “ We must be at the table, shaping the policies that will impact our future.”
Adding that we must chase opportunities and grab the decision-making table even if it means being left alone at it. This call to action resonated with the delegates, sparking discussions about the importance of collective youth representation in national, regional and global policy development processes.
While speaking to the delegates, Keith Andere, coordinator at the Africa Youth IGF noted a growing trend that raises concern, where many young participants seem more focused on capturing staged photos, pretending to be speakers, rather than seizing real opportunities to engage. This trend signals a need for a mindset shift.
Andere encouraged the youth to go beyond appearances and actively pursue opportunities to speak, moderate sessions, or engage in meaningful dialogues.
Forums such as the IGFs offer platforms not just for visibility, but for building knowledge and influencing real change in the technological ecosystem.
Key recommendations made during this session include:
- Perpetuate the culture of mentorship among the youth to enhance capacity and knowledge of Internet Governance issues and discussions around data protection, privacy laws, cybersecurity, and the ethical use of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
- Implement policies on the ground with as much zeal as input in the strategy-making processes
- The youth to meaningfully take advantage of opportunities offered to them
- Support of youth-led initiatives in various East African countries to empower young people to build their digital capacity
- Encourage more youth participation to diversify voices and ideas
The youth session at the EAIGF held in Kampala on 12th September, was a powerful reminder that young people are not just beneficiaries of the digital age but key stakeholders in shaping its future.
The insights and calls to action presented lay the groundwork for a youth-filled, multi-stakeholder Internet governance community. It also encouraged a people-centred, inclusive, and innovative digital future in East Africa.
Ms. Raylenne Kambua, Communications Associate and Program Assistant International Association of Women in Radio and Television- Kenya Digital Dada Podcast.
