Online: Aug 2026
I was invited to speak at the 10th Youth Forum on SDG Implementation during Session III: Building Inclusive Ecosystems for Youth-Led Innovation and Sustainable Development.
My session focused on “Empowering Changemakers: Strengthening Digital Skills and Innovation Capacities.”
I spoke on empowering youth change makers by addressing the evolving digital divide and proposed a three-rung digital empowerment ladder consisting of access (connectivity and devices), skills (computational thinking and AI literacy), and agency (mentorship, funding, and real authority).
I emphasized that "connected is not the same as capable," explaining that the modern digital divide is shifting from basic internet access to the ability to actively build and interrogate technologies like AI rather than being passive consumers.
Highlighting real-world youth innovators in agriculture and healthcare, I called on governments and stakeholders to integrate digital skills into core school curricula, treat connectivity as public infrastructure, and grant young people genuine decision-making and budget authority to turn their ideas into real-world impact.
As always I emphasized that youth empowered with AI become builders that have real-world impact for good.