Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd has chosen five Malaysian youths to represent Digi to attend the first-ever Asian edition of Telenor’s global youth thought leadership forum to be held in Bangkok. The Telenor Youth Forum Asia will focus on finding solutions to solve some of the most pressing youth issues in Asia ranging from youth unemployment to dialogue and access surrounding less talked about topics, such as mental health.
Besides them, other 23 youths representing Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Thailand who are all alumni of the global Telenor Youth Forum from the past three years are also joining.
Quah Yean Nie, Head of Communications of Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd said, “We are glad that five of Malaysia’s future leaders who took part in Telenor Youth Forums for the past three years, will get this opportunity to participate and make their voices heard in addressing some of the pressing issues affecting Asian youth in today’s rapidly changing world. Born into a digital age, they are the perfect group of people to share ideas and come up with possible solutions as they are passionate about social causes and believe that the power of technology can create action and real change.”
The five chosen youths representing Malaysia and Digi are:
- Farah Fauzi - A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) undergraduate student in International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), is an advocate for female economic empowerment and is interested in cyber law.
- Wong Gwen Yi - A young social entrepreneur with a big dream to ultimately change the lives of 30 million people
- Yong Wei Shian - An activist in reducing food wastage in Malaysia, comprising unconsumed and near-expiry food from restaurants and hotels
- Christine Cheah - An advocate for cancer communities to stay connected to support groups via a virtual sharing and learning environment
- Heidy Quah - A student and founder of Refuge for the Refugees aimed at raising awareness and educating refugees
World-class mentors and speakers from organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF Global Innovation Centre and the Nobel Peace Center, will provide and guide expert resources for strategy building, design planning and solution delivery. Such well-known mentors and speakers include Sigve Brekke, President and CEO of Telenor Group, and Liv Tørres, Executive Director of the Nobel Peace Center.
“By reconnecting our markets’ brightest, most engaged and tech-savvy youth to address challenges facing their peers in Asia, we hope to see creative solutions that inspire scalable programs that will empower youth in the region,” said Brekke.
“As we pilot the Telenor Youth Forum in Asia, we are not only furthering our commitment to an inclusive digital future, but also expanding this formerly Oslo-based programme into a year-round cycle of dialogue and production.”
During the course of the two-day forum, participants will develop actionable solutions to five key challenges that have been outlined for youth in Asia:
- Fighting youth joblessness: Youth unemployment in Asia is more than double the rate of the total working population and working poverty is significantly higher for workers in younger age brackets. How can Asia realistically decrease youth unemployment and how can technology assist in this challenge?
- Getting more girls in schools: In South Asian countries, eight girls for every 10 boys are enrolled in secondary education, while three women for every four men are enrolled in tertiary education. What solutions are possible to address gender inequality in education and can technology lead social change?
- Educating young laborers: Children who are forced to work to sustain their families lose out on opportunities for education and development. How can child or youth workers be reached with innovative solutions such as mobile education programs, in order to provide them with both education and a safe environment to gain self-confidence and critical thinking skills?
- Breaking the taboo of mental health: Adolescence is the age when mental health issues first surface and young people are at greater risk of dying of suicide and violence. Depression and eating disorders are also on the rise in Asia, but dialogue on these topics remains limited. How can technology play a role in reducing taboos around mental health and provide new channels for access and inclusion?
- Engaging youth in nation dialogue: Young people comprise approximately half of Asia’s population and there is an urgent need to incorporate youth perspectives into national development and the political process. How can technology help overcome barriers to civil participation among youth and encourage democracy, voting, and inclusion into the formal political process?
Telenor Youth Forum Asia 2016 will take place from May 25-26 in Bangkok, Thailand. The standout solution presented by the five teams will be featured at the fourth Telenor Youth Forum to be in Oslo, Norway during the Nobel Peace Prize week in December. For more information on the upcoming 2016 program, and to learn more about how to apply for it, visit www.telenor.com/youthforum/.
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