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Forus

2025-06-16

CADE Youth Voices for Digital Rights

Our younger generations of digital natives are the first to have their entire lives encoded in digital data. As the biggest user group on social media platforms, and those feeling the consequences of emerging technologies the most, young people are deeply impacted by how the digital world is governed. Yet, their rights are often overlooked, and their perspectives are often missing from internet governance forums.  

 

That’s what we want to change.

 

At CADE we consider youth in all their diversity and not as one homogenous group. At the same time, we do not identify young people as something unique or separate from their societies and we believe in their role of mobilising communities with intersectional, holistic and cross-cutting approaches. 

 

About CADE 

 

The Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment (CADE) project, co-funded by the European Union, aims to support civil society organisations in their crucial role within internet governance and digital policy. CADE is carried out by nine consortium partners  creating new synergies between Global North and Global South/Global Majority civil society platforms and digital rights movements. 

 

CADE Youth Voices for Digital Rights Multimedia Programme 

 

This programme, led by Forus and Karisma, mixes advocacy, storytelling, multimedia production, and hands-on learning.

 

It focuses on key digital rights issues relevant to young people to create collaborations across sectors and generations to advance advocacy efforts with the production of 10 documentaries/multimedia projects.  

 

We especially want to hear from young people and youth groups from communities that have been historically marginalised.

 

Programme Components 

 

Objectives: 

  • Youth-led capacity strengthening of young advocates to engage in global discussions on internet governance and digital rights.

  • Youth-led multimedia storytelling and co-production of 10 documentaries/multimedia projects for CADE to use and promote across internet governance spaces.

  • Cross-regional and global collaboration among youth advocates working on issues of digital freedom, equity, and access.

  • To strengthen the presence and voice of young people in key internet governance spaces and policy-making processes in the form of a collaborative Manifesto. 

What You’ll Do
 
If you’re one of the 10–15 Youth Advocates selected, you’ll get to:

 

🎥 Create documentaries/multimedia projects – write scripts, produce content, and share videos that spotlight critical issues in digital rights.
💻 Join online webinars – learn from experts about internet freedom, governance, and rights (with interpretation in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese).
🤝 Learn from peers worldwide – swap experiences, build networks, and collaborate with youth collectives, activists, and civil society organisations from across the globe.
🌐 Engage in internet governance spaces – link up with civil society, governments, and global forums like ICANN, ITU, IETF, and the UN IGF.

 

Your Roadmap for 2025
 
August 2025 Workshop – Foundations of Internet Governance and Digital Rights
  • Learn key concepts and the digital ecosystem.
  • Introduce yourself as a Young Advocate.
September 2025 Workshop – Storytelling for Digital Advocacy
  • Get the skills to make powerful multimedia tools.
  • Start producing the 10 multimedia projects.
  • Shape values-based narratives on equity, freedom, and inclusion online.
October 2025 Workshop – Youth Policy Engagement and the Collaborative Manifesto
  • Learn how to influence policy.
  • Co-create the Youth Digital Rights Manifesto.
  • Prepare to participate in governance forums.
Workshops 4–5 – Scheduled according to needs.
Workshop 6 – December 2025
  • Go global! Present your multimedia projects and the Manifesto in open workshops.
How to Apply
 
📅 Deadline: 19 August 2025
📧 Send your application to: Bibbi Abruzzini – [email protected]
 
You’ll need to:
  • Be under 30 years old.
  • Speak and work in English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese.
  • Send your CV.
  • Share your organisation’s website (if you have one).
  • Write a motivation letter answering:
    1. Why do you want to be a Youth Digital Rights Advocate?
    2. What’s your experience in internet governance and digital rights?
    3. What do you hope to gain from this programme?