My name is Houth Morokoth and I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the Royal University of Phnom Penh’s Institute for International Studies and Public Policy with a major in International Economics. I’m one of the Organizing Committee of Cambodia’s yIGF. The main reason why I joined the Asia Pacific Youth IGF 2023 is to learn more deeply about internet governance which is one of the hot topics in the contemporary world due to its huge impact on society. In my country, most people still have limited knowledge related to these topics and have little awareness of the issues that related to Internet governance or digital platforms.
After I discovered Asia Pacific yIGF, my interest in Internet governance and digital platforms skyrocketed as I wanted to explore and learn more about it. Another interesting observation, this forum consists of a diversity of groups such as government, private sectors, and NGOs which is the perfect opportunity to understand different perspectives on Internet governance. These opportunities will allow me to know and connect with people who share similar interests and learn new things from various perspectives. I hope to learn more about digital governance at the conference and also to meet more individuals throughout the Asia Pacific region and broaden my network of contacts. After I decided to apply for the Asia Pacific Youth IGF 2023, I was chosen to receive accommodation support from yIGF.Asia and attend the forum in person in Brisbane, Australia. As a member of the yIGF 2023 Cambodia, I also want to offer my sincere gratitude to Open Development Cambodia for covering the cost of my roundtrip flight and visa.
The Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF) take place in Brisbane, Australia from August 29 to August 31, 2023, under the sponsorship of the au Domain Administration (auDA) and sponsored by Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), APNIC Foundation, NETTHING 2023, Australian Government, and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The yIGF provides a forum for young people in the Asia-Pacific area to discuss Internet governance. All young participants will have the chance to gain insight into hot topics like digital inclusion and sustainability through trust. This year yIGF has made an effort to bring youth as well as multi-stakeholders to the table in order to provide them with the necessary information and skills to engage in conversations around Internet governance.
Before the event, all of the participants actively participated in online meetings utilizing “Google Chat” as the communication channel. We also have a virtual yIGF 2023 orientation when we introduce ourselves during an informal ice-breaking session. Following the icebreaker, they provide a brief overview of yIGF and an insightful introduction for individuals who have questions about yIGF. The IGF basically aims to inform young people about Internet governance. It also encourages the younger generation to engage in more deliberation and decision-making process. Therefore, the goal of the yIGF is a youth network and, most importantly, capacity building.
Additionally, we received an update such as a document to review before attending the event including yIGF Infokit; containing comprehensive information about the event, including the agenda, speaker profiles, and other relevant details. I can familiarize myself with the information in Infokit and make the most of my involvement, which is incredibly convenient for me. In addition to a group chat on Google Space, we have a second group chat on Signal for the participant presentations throughout the event. This group chat is separated into four main stakeholder groups: Civil Society, Technical Community, Government, and Private Sector. Thus, prior to the in-person event, I could communicate with other members from various nations using this online platform thanks to the yIGF organizing committee.