----- Original Message -----
From: Nick Moraitis <nick@takingitglobal.org>
To: <claire.chombeau@ties.itu.int>; <bureau@geneva2003.org>
Cc: 'Terri Willard' <twillard@iisd.ca>; 'Alex Fielding'
<alex@takingitglobal.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 1:05 PM
Subject: Youth Nominations
Hi Claire and the Fellowship Committee,
To assist with the work of the fellowship committee, here are some
biographical notes on each of the Youth Caucus nominations. For
accreditation purposes, we listed many of their organizations as
TakingITGlobal, but they have rich and diverse experiences... There are also
many other very qualified youth who have submitted applications and if you
have any questions as to their credentials, just let me know.
Best wishes,
Nick
--
1) Diogo ASSUMPCAO, Brazil (22). Diogo is the full-time coordinator of a
youth organization linking development and social activism, Groupo Intagir
and works with the network Protagonismo Juvenil and the South American
Regional Office of the Global Youth Action Network. He previously worked as
a computer engineer at a government agency and recently completed his
studies in computer science. He participated in ICT aspects of the World
Social Forum, and the second preparatory committee of the WSIS, and is
coordinating local WSIS youth activities, including a series of local
workshops in 5 cities linked by video conference. He is also helping with
translation and dissimination about WSIS Youth caucus activities throughout
Latin America and hopes to present at the upcoming Curitiba conference.
2) Ina VAKAAFI, Niue (19). Ina is Assistant Producer for the Niue
Broadcasting Corporation, for which she coordinates reporting for both
radio, television and print media. (Niue is an Island in the Pacific with a
population of 3000). Recently she travelled with and reported on the Niue
national team at the South Pacific Games. Ina is also involved with the Niue
Youth Council, and is Secretary of the Pine Youth Club in her home vollage
of Mutelau. At the age of 14, she was a delegate to the Junior Summit held
at the Media Lab of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Through the WSIS
process, she will also work with the Niue Information Communication
Committee and the Internet Users Society of Niue.
(NOTE: Ina's application is not included on the list. I -Nick- personally
faxed it to Claire before the 1st August deadline and will now resend again,
so this must be a mistake -- please do consider her!!).
3) Aditi UPTAT, India (18): Aditi is a very active member of TakingITGlobal
in India, and a close colleague of Maitreyi Doshi (who has represented India
for the Youth Caucus at Prepcoms 1&2 and the Asia Pacific meeting). Together
with a team of local youth, Aditi is coordinating the national WSIS youth
activities in India, including a Youth Workshop in Delhi around the 20th of
August for 150 people with the support of the Indian Institute of
Technology. Other workshops, media activities, and more are planned for
other cities, leading up to a national workshop in Pune later this year.
4) Gbenga SESAN, Nigeria (26): 'Gbenga has a high profile as Nigeria's Youth
Technology Ambassador. He works with Junior Achievement Nigeria, and is the
founder of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria - a growing movement of young
technology professionals who work to bridge the digital divide. He has
participated in numerous WSIS related events including the ITU Africa
TELECOM Youth Forum, the Bamako Regional Meeting for WSIS, the 1st
Preparatory Committee Meeting for WSIS, and other meetings organized by
UNECA and APC. He is coordinating a range of activities locally in Nigeria
to involve youth in WSIS.
5) Titi AKINSANMI, Nigeria (22): Titilayo is an active member of Paradigm
Initiative Nigeria (PIN). By day, she works in Lagos with Mtech
Communications, as a developer of WAP services and content. Previous
work/volunteer experience includes stints with Junior Achievement Nigeria,
and the National Orientation Broadcasting Service. She has done online
training courses with the World Bank Institute and the International Youth
Parliament, and speaks French. She participated in the second preparatory
committee meeting of WSIS, has played an active role coordinating African
youth activities related to WSIS, and is part of the Gender Caucus.
6) Robert SAGUN, The Philippines (25): Robert is the President of the Young
Volunteers for Sustainable Development a youth-led organization working on
sustainable development initiatives, including using ICT4D. At present, YVSD
is organizing a WSIS Youth Forum for November at the Asian Development
Bank's Manila headquarters. Robert attended the Tokyo Regional Preparatory
Meting where he spoke on the NGO panel, and also attended Prepcom 2. He also
received a fellowship from the International Institute for Sustainable
Development in which he conducted research on the connections between WSIS
and the WSSD/MDGs.
7) Adrian PINTILIE (22), Romania: Adrian is Secretary General of AEGEE: The
European Students Forum, which is one of the largest student organizations
in Europe with more than 200 campus based affiliates in 40 countries. Adrian
has spearheaded European youth involvement in the WSIS, and is planning
various projects together with the European Commission DG Information
Society, including support for young participants at the Summit. He
participated in the Pan-European Regional Meeting in Bucharest, the 2nd
Preparatory Committee Meeting, and the WSIS Intersessional Meeting. (Note:
Like many members of the Youth Caucus - but in particular - Adrian has never
received any financial support for his participation and has made a
significant contribution at his own expense with limited means).
8) Sunit SHRESTHA (22), Thailand. Sunit is the founder of Thai Rural Net, an
initiative founded by young people that seeks to bring development to rural
communities through social innovation and incubation. At present they are
working on Tah-net rural web portal, hill tribe e-commerce, digital
grassroots clopeadia, community based ecotourism portal and the Youth
Innovation Year initiative with UNICEF. Other supporters include the World
Bank and the Boston Consulting Group. Thai Rural Net has been identified as
as a Youth Creating Digital Opportunities best-practice project in the
lead-up to the Summit, and Suni attended a workshop run in June by the
Global Knowledge Partnership/YCDO for young Asian Leaders in ICTs.
9) Hasmet KOYUNCU, Turkey: Hasmet is the Secretary General of the Youth
Association for Habitat and Agenda 21 an international association, also
with national activities in Turkey. Youth for Habitat have been following
the WSIS process since the Bucharest Regional Meeting, also participating in
the 2nd Preparatory Committee and the Arab League Regional Meeting,
represented by Itir Atdogan (Project Manager... who has a event clash for
Prepcom 3). At the national level, the Association is coordinating Local
Agenda 21 programs in 50 cities, runs a comprehensive web-portal, and one of
the only Cisco Networking Academies run by a youth organization.
10) Leopold ARMAH (29), Ghana: Leopold is a software engineer in Ghana, and
is an active member of TakingITGlobal. He has spearheaded development of a
national information society youth campaign in Ghana, including media
outreach, newsletters and a school-clubs based initiative called "Catch IT
young" as part of the "African Information Society Youth Initiative".
Nick Moraitis
Strategy and Partnership Coordinator
TakingITGlobal - Toronto, Canada
<http://profiles.takingitglobal.org/nick>
nick@takingitglobal.org