2017 [email protected] Programme

To build a better Internet, we need young people!

Many young people age 18-25 are the first generation of adults to grow up not knowing the world without the Internet. For those that do not have access, they are some of the people that are pushing hardest for it.

Young people are shaping online culture in so many ways. They use the Internet to meet people around the world, create the videos that go viral, create art that moves us, and start and stand behind online social movements that make us think.

They are building their dream Internet.

And yet when it comes to policy discussions, most of them are not at the table.

The Internet Society wants to change that!

Together with our partners, CGI.br, NIC.MX, the Government of Mexico, Microsoft and Verizon, we have brought more than 130 youth to IGF 2015 and 2016, under the [email protected] programme.

This is part of the Internet Society and partners’ commitment to ensure that the next generation of Internet leaders are primed to advance an Internet of opportunity for all. As a result of these efforts, many young people are now contributing to the Youth Special Interest Group and to regional meetings, such as the African Internet Summit, EuroDIG, and others.

The applications are now closed. Follow us for the updates on the 2018 [email protected] Programme.

About the programme

The 2017 Objectives

Based on the success in 2015 and 2016, the programme continues to empower next generation Internet leaders by:

  • Building regional and global capacity through training.
  • Building a new cadre of Internet leaders who are motivated to learn, engage and act within their region and beyond.
  • Mobilizing youth beyond IG-specific topics.
  • Partnering with more organizations to broaden the depth.

Program Design

The programme has the following phases:

1. Online course work
2. Travel fellowship to IGF
3. Webinar lecture series
4. Onsite Collaborative Leadership Exchange

Online Course

We select the best candidates for the online course. The course will take 4 weeks to complete and includes the following topics:

  • Introduction to Internet Governance
  • Internet Actors and Stakeholder Groups
  • Internet Infrastructure, Standards, and Protocols
  • Internet Policy Principles

Selected participants will be grouped into classes, each with a dedicated expert moderator to facilitate the learning process. Classes will be delivered in English, French and Spanish.

Travel Fellowship

Top participants in the online course will be selected for the travel fellowship to the Internet Governance Forum (including some pre-IGF events).

To be a top participant, you must show leadership, commitment and dedication, and have minimum of 90% participation rate on the online courses.

The fellowship includes:

  • Airfare costs
  • Hotel accommodation during the event.

If chosen, you must submit verification of passport and visa for Switzerland (if necessary).

Webinar Lecture Series

All travel fellows will then be invited to participate in Webinar Discussion Series led by global Internet Governance experts to deepen their knowledge and to prepare them for the IGF.

Onsite Collaborative Leadership Exchange

The Youth Fellows will participate to an Onsite Collaborative Leadership Exchange meeting in partnership with Internet Society Ambassadors to IGF, Youth Fellows from other programs, and IGF attendees more generally.

Selection Criteria

All applicants must be ISOC members* between the ages of 18-25 years.

Also, they must have:

  • Basic awareness of Internet-related issues
  • Fluency in English, French, or Spanish
  • Be able to write clearly
  • Be comfortable with public speaking and communicating your positions
  • Have regular access to the Internet
  • Alignment with the Internet Society Core principles
  • Spend a minimum of 8 hours each week during each of the phases
  • Be ready take part in the meetings or webinars (this is the single most important requirement and should be evaluated seriously by any potential applicant).

The selection committee is focused on professional, geographical, and gender diversity in the overall selections.

Important: There will be an additional selection process for the second phase (Travel Fellowship). It is only available for selected participants who have accomplished the online course with a minimum of 90% participation rate.

*If you are not an ISOC member yet, we welcome you to join our Community!

Timeline for 2017

  • 25 July – 15 August: applications open for the the [email protected] programme
  • 28 August: announcement of the selected candidates
  • 1 September: start of the online course
  • 30 September: end of the online course
  • 10 October: announcement of [email protected] fellows
  • 15 October: start of the webinar discussions
  • 16 December: arrival in Geneva

Partners

Would you like to help the Internet Society and support us with this programme? Please, feel free to contact [email protected].

The Youth would appreciate your help!