On the occasion of International Youth Day, the Datasphere Initiative spoke to a range of youth activists, and young professionals to ask them why leveraging youth voices is important in efforts to unlock the value of data, and how can education on data governance equip youth globally with the skills they will need to promote a greener future?
Jennifer Kaber, Research Affiliate at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, shared her perspectives on utilizing children’s and youth’s voices to build a sustainable future through more evidence-based decision-making.
Read more about the campaign and other contributions here.
Mtoto News is developing a child-led online game called the “Online Tree Planting Game” targeted at Gen Z and children to raise awareness of the effects of climate change.
The game leverages young people’s unique needs, priorities, and experiences to induce positive behavior to build a sustainable green future. For every tree planted online, a real tree is planted in the real world.
In this initiative dubbed Mtoto News Gone Green, the game seeks to utilize children’s and youth’s voices and data on how to progressively build a sustainable future through more evidence-based decision-making.
This will help prepare for a smooth transition from fossil-fueled economies to green economies coupled with precise predictions of future challenges.
Therefore, educating young people on data governance will equip them with the technical and soft skills required for the green transition. This will help translate employment creation, entrepreneurship, or business ideas into solutions that accelerate the upskilling or reskilling of youth for a greener future.
Further, it will promote meaningful participation in the green policy-making processes for a smooth transition. In doing so, the youth will become agents of a green transition in their workplaces and community.
Ms. Kaberi is a Research Affiliate at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, investigating how we can reboot social media by creating a digital environment where children can engage, create, and influence in a safe and fun environment.
She is a Child Development specialist with a Masters in Child Development from Daystar University. Jennifer has over 17 years of experience working with children, and a significant amount of developing child-focused systems.
Jennifer has supported several governments and regional bodies in developing children’s policies as part of the technical committees. Jennifer has been trailblazing in using technology as a tool for child participation by creating platforms where children can hold their leaders accountable as well as contribute to National and Regional debates.
