Ketevan Kochladze, our Member Organisations Officer, will represent YEE at the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) that will take place on 5 – 6 June in Tbilisi, Georgia. In this article she is telling us more about her experience at EuroDIG and youth participation and what will happen in June.

It is the first EuroDIG for which Youth And Environment Europe submitted issues for an upcoming European Dialogue on Internet Governance. As a network of youth environmental organisations in Europe, YEE finds the topic of youth participation as a fundamental part of its work and I explore it thanks to my organisation.

The European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) is an open multi-stakeholder platform created to exchange views about the Internet and how it is governed. During the meeting, representatives of governments, the business sector, civil society, Internet-based organisations, technical communities, participants, subject matter experts and every interested persons, are gathering to discuss internet governance related issues.

EuroDIG is always open, always inclusive. It is never too late to get involved! When I was representing YEE at the public planning meeting, I clearly saw how EuroDIG was ready to support youth participation in Internet Governance processes. After attending the open public planning meeting, I will organise a session for exchanging views and best practices: “E-Participation in shaping a greener environment”, and I am actively involved as an organising team member for the upcoming meeting.

EuroDIG is supported by a group of institutional partners (in alphabetical order):

- Council of Europe
- European Commission
- European Regional At-Large Organization (EURALO)
- European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
- European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO)
- Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
- Internet Society (ISOC)
- Federal Office of Communications of Switzerland (OFCOM)
- Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC)

What happened before ?

I was always passionate about STEM field, and my passion stimulated me to study in Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences (2008-2012) and with highest marks I graduated from Cisco Networking Academy (2012-2013). I like to use my technical abilities for developing partnerships on technology innovation and environment and for communications.

In 2016 I became YEE Board Member and was actively involved in the STEP Project. From this project I learned about participation processes, mining and possibilities for young people to participate. Thanks to YEE, I spent one week at the NGO Island in cultural Sziget Festival, with an amazing team, to organise sessions about environment and e-participation and youth involvement in these topics. Results? See: "4 lessons about youth e-participation we learned thanks to STEP project".

In 2017 I participated in a seminar on “Youth Participation in Internet Governance“, in which I explored how youth participation in Internet Governance can be ensured in a meaningful and inclusive manner. I formulated recommendations for future actions to be taken by the Youth Department and the Council of Europe to support youth participation.

In March 2018 YEE organised the training course “Youth exploring participation”, encouraging other young people to take part in decision-making processes through our project “Active youth – better environment!”.

What's next?

- EuroDIG - 5-6 June 2018 (plus day zero) - I am a very active participant in the EuroDIG sessions organising team and will be offering session about e-participation in shaping a greener environment.

- YEE Campaign Take Green Stand!

- And very excited for the upcoming YEE Training Course "Youth for environmental future".

Ketevan Kochladze, Member Organisations Officer 2017/2018