My journey in Internet governance began at the first Nepal School on Internet Governance (NpSIG) in 2018, where I delved into the fundamentals of the Internet governance ecosystem, the underlying principles, and the vital roles played by various stakeholders to ensure that the Internet is operational, secure, inclusive, affordable, and accessible. At this juncture of my life I came to the realization and sensitize that ensuring internet access as a fundamental right is just as crucial as maintaining the internet’s uninterruptible technical functionality.
Since then, I have been actively engaged and contributed to Internet governance activities, including Nepal’s national IGF, Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum (APrIGF), and various other Internet Governance Initiatives. In my role as an Open Internet for Democracy Leader, I significantly enriched my understanding of human rights in the digital age and established it also helped me to make my presence as a youth stakeholder in different dialogues and discourses.
Recognizing the absence of local platforms that encourage youth involvement in Internet policy, I was determined to address this issue. With unwavering commitment and invaluable support from the community, I co-founded the Youth Internet Governance Forum of Nepal in 2021. Our mission was unambiguous: to facilitate meaningful discussions on Internet governance among young individuals. To kick-start our efforts, we organized an Online Child Safety workshop for school teachers and parents in collaboration with the Forum for Digital Equality and Internet Governance Institute. With the accumulated confidence and support, we embarked on the journey to secure the recognition from the UN IGF Secretariat. In February 2022, after completing all the due process, we officially received recognition from the UN IGF secretariat, enabling us to hold the first ever Youth IGF in Nepal.
Up to this point, we have successfully concluded three editions of the Youth IGF Nepal, and we are currently wrapping up our post event activities. The community has expanded, and we are actively supporting young individuals to participate in these discussions while continuing our regular capacity-building activities. Additionally, Youth IGF Nepal is a member of the Digital Freedom Coalition, a consortium of organizations dedicated to promoting digital freedom, cybersecurity, digital resilience, and internet governance in Nepal. Through this coalition, we collaborate closely to ensure online privacy, meaningful access to technology, cybersecurity, internet governance, freedom of expression online, and the resilience of Nepal’s digital ecosystem. By being part of this coalition, Youth IGF Nepal extends its reach and involvement in broader discussions.
Furthermore, my involvement in the internet governance landscape has continued to evolve since the establishment of Youth IGF Nepal. I have extended my contributions to other initiatives, such as the Digital Freedom Coalition. Additionally, I am now engaged with global youth institutions dedicated to empowering young individuals being part of different youth initiatives focused on empowerment of young people in Internet Governance Issues.
