Young people at the heart of digital change

Our younger generations of digital natives are the first to have their entire lives encoded in data. They are the largest group using social media platforms and the ones most exposed to the impacts of emerging technologies, yet too often, their voices are kept at the periphery of the forums where decisions about internet governance and digital futures are made, and their rights overlooked.

That’s what CADE Youth Voices for Digital Rights sets out to change.

A programme built to amplify youth voices

This new initiative by the CADE consortium, led by Forus with support from Karisma, puts young people at the centre of digital transformation. It equips a diverse cohort of 15 young advocates with the tools to:

• Build skills in policy engagement, multimedia communications, and advocacy.

• Connect globally with allies across regions.

• Speak up in the spaces where internet governance and digital policies are shaped.

The programme culminates in the launch of a Youth Manifesto on Digital Rights and the presentation of multimedia, multilingual projects on the global stage. 

The participants were selected through a civil society-led process overseen by a selection committee composed of Diplo, Forus, and Karisma. This ensured that the cohort reflects diverse perspectives, communities, and regions — bringing together voices from across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe.

They are journalists, policy researchers, technologists, activists, and community organisers, already shaping change in their own contexts.

From Nigeria to Nepal, Argentina to Sri Lanka, Benin to the Philippines, Pakistan to Mexico, Bulgaria to Madagascar, Tanzania to Ecuador, and India, these advocates are working on issues as diverse as:

• Digital rights and online privacy

• Gender justice and equality

• Climate action and environmental justice

• Indigenous language revitalisation

• Fighting misinformation and online discrimination

• Psychosocial support and wellbeing

• Youth leadership and civic participation

Many have founded or led organisations that mobilise communities, use storytelling to shift narratives, and drive transformational social change. Discover their profiles in the dynamic section below!

Meet the facilitators and media leaders

The programme is guided by experienced facilitators and communicators who bring global perspectives and hands-on expertise:

• Athavarn Srikantharajah  – Founder and lead facilitator at Nilā Facilitation. An Eelam Tamil organiser, facilitator, and writer with over a decade of experience in social and economic justice, Athavarn has worked on community assemblies, research on poverty, and human rights co-design labs. Their work spans Canada, South Africa, Jordan, Poland, the United States, and Sri Lanka.

• Fonka Mutta – An English/French journalist and media executive with over 20 years of international experience, including as Channel Manager at CRTV News. From reporting on the Boko Haram crisis to moderating at UNESCO events, he brings expertise in crisis reporting, newsroom leadership, digital innovation, and capacity strenghtening of media practicioners across Africa.

• Catarina Vila Nova – Communications specialist with over five years of experience in journalism, podcasting, and digital communications in several countries (Portugal, China, the Netherlands, Malta, Belgium, and Spain). Skilled in content creation, media outreach, and digital storytelling with a strong focus on intersectional feminism and social and climate justice. Catarina started her career as a journalist in Macao, China, and later specialized in implementing communications campaigns for NGOs, EU institutions, and think tanks. She has collaborated with Forus on the #Let's Talk Digital Campaign.