Youth celebrate International Youth Day by upskilling on tools to amplify their digital inclusion
2023-08-14
The Namibia Media Trust (NMT) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its fifth (5th) annual YouthQuake conference, hosted on August 12, 2023, in Windhoek, Namibia. August 12 was also celebrated globally as International Youth Day.
The #YouthQuakeNam23 served as a vital platform for youth engagement in community development and personal growth, and was was anchored by the theme “Digital Inclusion for Youth Democratic Participation”.
The #YouthQuakeNam23 conference created an environment where young Namibians could learn from their peers, express diverse viewpoints and prompt important conversations on the need to reinforce, among others, digital resilience for safeguarding against virtual threats, understanding Namibia’s digital regulations and information accessibility.
Guiding the opening session on Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered Democracy was Professor Anicia Peters, the Chief Executive Officer of Namibia’s National Commission on Research, Science, and Technology (NCRST). She shared insights on how Namibian youth could harness the potential of AI in driving the change they aspire to see. In a compelling challenge, she called on them to equip themselves with the necessary skills and to craft proposals centered around AI-driven democracy, a journey that NCRST could potentially support and enable.
E-democracy also emerged as an effective tool that helps share political info quickly, makes debates faster and better, and gets more people involved in making decisions. This is aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 agenda, which underscores the importance of involving young people and empowering youth for political activism and democratic engagement.
While the digital landscape offers transformative opportunities, it simultaneously presents challenges. It was noted that it is important to understand algorithmic gatekeeping, polarisation, and echo chambers which present hurdles that impact access to information and online interactions.
Moreover, the programme highlighted the profound significance of digital literacy, expanding its scope beyond basic internet usage to encompass the necessity of safeguarding data - a concept extending beyond the Right to Privacy outlined in Article 13. In Namibia, dedicated efforts are underway to craft a comprehensive Data Protection Bill (DPB), with inclusive public consultations spanning diverse geographic regions. Young individuals are strongly encouraged to remain aware of their digital ecosystems.
With Namibia’s rise as an investment hub, propelled in large part by its burgeoning offshore oil discoveries, the conference naturally broadened its scope to encompass the realm of oil and gas exploration. Women in Oil, Gas and Energy Network Namibia (WOGEN), shared experiences with the YouthQuakers about increased opportunities not only for women but also aiding in bridging the knowledge gap. WOGEN is a Namibian non-profit, champions gender diversity in the oil, gas, and energy sectors, aligning with SDG 5 for gender equality.
The NMT extends its gratitude to all participants, speakers, and media partners, particularly The Namibian newspaper, Desert Radio and the Heinrich Böll Foundation whose contributions helped to make the conference a success. The NMT hopes to grow the membership of the YouthQuake and extend its influence for youth involvement, digital inclusiveness, and active engagement in shaping the Namibia we all want.
For updates and further information, please stay connected to the various NMT communication channels or contact us at info@nmt.africa.
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