Report on Amazon Fellowship to IGF2017 by Shreedeep Rayamajhi

1. Report on Amazon Fellowship to IGF2017 by Shreedeep Rayamajhi
APSIG/AMAZON-2017-1
2017 IGF Report
2017.12.28
Shreedeep Rayamajhi
1. INTRODUCTION
The APSIG Amazonfellowshipwasagreatexperienceof learningandnetworkingwhere we fellowsgot
the chancesto voice our issuesandchallengesfaced inAsia.Asiaisaregionwhichhasissuesof
standardizationandthe internetpracticesdiffersfromone countrytoanothermakingitvulnerable as
well asat highrisk. The diversityandthe language barrierssimplynotonlychallengesthe development
processbut provestobe a bighurdle.Otherthanthat Asiaisa big regionthathas a limitedtolerance
againstissuesof internetrights,FoE,Access,infrastructures,Cybersecurity,cyberpoliciesandsoon.
The major cause of thisisbecause of lack of awarenessandlackof internetcore values. With
fellowshipsandopportunitieslikethese,the Asiancommunity cancertainlycreate betterawareness
and exposure.
The program helped me tocommunicate andcollaborate atvariouslevels.Duringthe IGF2017,
my engagementandparticipation wasnotjustlimitedtomy sessioninfactfrommypersonal side I
participatedinvariousbestpractice forumandcollaborated withvariousothergroupsincreatingtool
kitsand betteradaptationof IG foryouths.
I participatedinvarioussessionsrangingfromhumanrightstoIoT to forums,the experience
was overwhelmingingraspingandunderstandingthe overallprocessof internetgovernance andhow
the bottomup approach works. Iwas more involvedwithyouthmotivationandleadershipandhadfew
informal sessiononhowwe coulduse our local resource andexpertiseincreatingourownInternet
governance initiative. We are evenplanningtofacilitate local IGeventsandavailableresource and
collaborate ineverypossible wayinlesseningthe gaps.
My focuswasnot justto attendthe IGF but to analyze the situationof how the mentalityis
changingespeciallyatthe leadershipandpolicylevel of seeingAsiaasagrowingeconomyof internet
and howtheyare planningtotackle the issueshere.Asiaitselfisbiggergrowing economyin contextof
digital worldwhere there isagreatneedsof integrationof core valuesand leadership. Fromthisyears’
experience,Icertainlygotthe vibesof betterinternetecosystemwheremultistakeholderismisthe key
and youth engagementinIGprocess isthe biggestchallenge.
The program needstobe furtherexpandedingettingmore people fromAsiaPacificto
participate inthe global internetgovernance processcreatingabetterunderstanding of
multistakeholderismandcollaboration.

2. Report on Amazon Fellowship to IGF2017 by Shreedeep Rayamajhi
2. SESSION AT IGF
Session: WS6 IG GrassrootsInitiativesYouth Leaderson the table
Link: https://igf2017.sched.com/event/CTqn/ig-grassroots-initiatives-youth-leaders-on-the-table-ws6
Date : Tuesday, 2017-12-19, 09:00 - 10:30
Location: RoomXI BLDG A
VideoLink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erNCZaqKgN0
The workshop sessionwasstartedwitha presentationon the survey thatwasconducted
majorlyamongyouthsof variousregionsinunderstandingtheirchallengesandissuesof youth
leadershipandtheireffortsof voicingthe issues.
The presentationhighlightedthe findingsandthe currentgapsin betweenthe perspectivesof
developedanddevelopingnation’syouth.
The findingsof the report are:
 Youth Gaps
 More Engagementneeded
 More Fellowship
 Focused Coachingandmentoringprograms
 NextgenerationpolicyinInternetOrganization
 More collaborationfromall sides
 Diversity
We highlightedthe youthinvolvementinInternetgovernance processes,astheyare the next
generationof leadersandthe mostvulnerable group.The challengesfacedbyyouthleadershipin
Internetgovernance are attimessidelined.
Especially,withthe lackof properguidelinesyouthsufferthe consequencesof nepotismand
favoritism, internetpoliticsand ultimately failtounderstand the overallconceptof the multistakeholder
process.
In thisprocessof gettingyouthonthe table there needstobe visibilityandidentificationof
youthrelatedissuesandfurtherneedtoworkoncreatinga bridge tocreate an understatingin
facilitatingthe process. Youthhave tobe reachin a more simplifiedandeasywaysof identifyingtheir
commonalityincreatingthatinterest.
A lotof issueswere coveredwhichprimarilyfocusedonthe basicinterventionof gettingthe
youthon the table andtheirchallenges.The issuesthatwere discussedwere:
1. Why youthshouldbe involved?
2. What shouldbe the interventions?
3. How can theystart the IG process?

3. Report on Amazon Fellowship to IGF2017 by Shreedeep Rayamajhi
One of the speakerhighlightedthe needtolookatthe abusive content,childpornography,
inappropriate content,andsafetyof childrenandgetsupportforfundinginitiativesandengage
differentstakeholderstotackle the problemsof onlinechildpornissues. Especially,talkingabout
grassrootslevel initiative thereisnofundingforInternetgovernance initiatives.A lotof studentsinthe
Philippinesare onlyconcernedwhenthe Internetisslow,andtheyhave problemsconnectingtoit. The
issueshave tobe targetedintermsof theirinterestandconcernedthatcanbe an effective wayof
engagement.
Likewise, issueswere pointedoutthatInternetgovernance of itself isahard subject.InBrazil,
theyare soproud of multistakeholdersbutitishard to engage Brazilianyouthinthe subjectitself.For
example,afatherwouldnotbe able toexplaintohischild how touse a mobile phone;theydonotknow
howto restrictit. The generationsaheadneedtolearn.Itisimportanttoletyoungpeople know that
theyare the mainusersof the Internet,andthattheyare expectedtohave yearsof experiencein
Internetgovernance. Influencingyouthandthe general publiconissuesof Internetgovernance isa
majorchallenge asislinkingittotheirdailylife.
Similarly,inmostof the cases issuesof e-governmentare associated withpolitical issues,digital
issues,andpoliciesthatthe governmentbringforth,affecteveryindividual’slife.Associatingthosewith
Internetgovernance helpsalotintermsof attractinginterestfromeitherthe youthorthe general
public.
One of the participantsalsohighlighted thatherpeersare not interestedinlearningabout
Internetgovernance andcybersecurity. She saidthatthe Internetof Thingsishappening,and
informationissolvedbutpeople are choosingtooverlookthe breachesof privacyforthe sake of
continuingto use the devicesandplatformswe want.
The session wasclosed byaskingthe audience touse capacityresourcesin startingupforums
and blogs, andtalkingaboutInternetgovernance issues,startingnotstoppingwhatevertheycando to
engage propercommunicationwithinthe communityincollaborationandcommitmentforchange.
3. ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
 If there were some level of stipend,itwouldhave facilitatedourexperience aswe hadnofree
transportationandfood so I thinkitshouldbe considered
 RegardingVISA,especiallyforAsianthe VISA approval processiscompletelydifferentthanrest
of the world, itis lengthyand full of stress,timelycommunicationandcollaborationisamust
 The engagementof the fellowshipshouldfurthercontinue
4. RECOMMENDATION
1. A formal sessionwithAmazon during the firstorsecondday and itsworkwhichhelpsthe
fellowstoknowwhotheyare connectedwithandtheirrolesandresponsibilitiesinthe future
2. A certificate of recognitionbyAmazonandAPSIG

4. Report on Amazon Fellowship to IGF2017 by Shreedeep Rayamajhi
3. The fellowshipwasagreat opportunityforAsianfellowstoshare theirexperience andissues,an
interactive formal social amongall the amazonfellowsfromvariousregion
4. A fellowshipsessionatIGFfor bettercollaborationandcooperation
5. A more focused social mediaand communicationstrategy forvisibility
REFERENCES
1. IGF, 2017 WS #6 CollaborativeCommunityDevelopmentProgramLearnIG PromotingYouthon
the Table, https://www.intgovforum.org/multilingual/content/igf-2017-ws-6-collaborative-
community-development-program-learn-ig-promoting-youth-on-the.
2. ShreedeepRayamajhi,LearnIG “InternetdevelopmentReport”
https://www.slideshare.net/ShreedeepRayamajhi/internet-development-report-of-asia-pacific-
2016-least-developed-countries-ld-cs-and-their-challenges-by-shreedeep-rayamajhi.
3. ShreedeepRayamajhi,Youthonthe table,ppt,2017-12-19,
https://www.slideshare.net/ShreedeepRayamajhi/youth-on-the-table-survey-presentation.
4. ShreedeepRayamajhi,(Final) SurveyaboutYouthonthe Table:Youth challengesandIssuesin
InternetGovernance,IGF,2017-12-19,
https://www.slideshare.net/ShreedeepRayamajhi/survey-report-about-youth-on-the-table-
youth-challenges-and-issues-in-internet-governance.
5. IGF, IG Grassrootsinitiatives,Youthleadersonthe table (WS6),2017-12-19,
https://igf2017.sched.com/event/CTqn/ig-grassroots-initiatives-youth-leaders-on-the-table-
ws6.

5. Report on Amazon Fellowship to IGF2017 by Shreedeep Rayamajhi
Figure 1 Shreedeep Rayamajhi Hosting the session at IGF2017
Figure 2 At the Social organized by Chris Wilson of Amazon

6. Report on Amazon Fellowship to IGF2017 by Shreedeep Rayamajhi
Figure 3 At the Lunch organized for APSIG and Amazon fellows by APSIG