Kenya’s Valarie Neema Waswa is among the candidates selected for the inaugural edition of the Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme (GCYLP) fellows who completed their development week in Switzerland.
Valarie was among the first group of students from 28 countries who completed the development week in Switzerland.
Additionally, she is among the 30 initial fellows who were selected by a global jury from a pool of 5,249 applicants from over 200 countries worldwide.
Valarie is an upcoming lawyer, who is passionate about women and youth inclusion in governance and decision-making processes.
She has worked with different organizations including youth activists in initiatives that seek to promote peace and socio-economic development of women and youth.
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GCYLP Huawei Digital Talent Program
GCYLP, an initiative launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with Huawei, supports 30 fellows each year for a period of three years.
It was announced in November 2023 and applications for the inaugural cohort opened in February. Over the next two years, two more groups, nearly 100 young visionaries from around the world, will embark on a similar journey.
The initiative supports fellows aged between 18-28 years, providing them with mentorship and financial support for one year to use digital technology to drive community development through their projects.
Additionally, the week-long activities include leadership fireside chats, an intergenerational panel discussion, and visits to Geneva University, Palais de Nations, as well as Huawei Switzerland in Zurich.
Similarly, the program offers online mentoring sessions, virtual “fireside chats” with industry experts, group projects with other participants, and other online programs in addition to the initial development week.
Also Read: Govt Clarifies Budget Allocation for Youth Empowerment Program
Statement from Organizers
Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, also gave his remarks on surviving in a multi-sectoral world including adopting a multi- disciplinary approach.
“Seizing opportunities and creating new ones, being collaborative and resilient, as well as adopting a multi- disciplinary approach for a multi-sectoral world in which we find ourselves, will go a long way in helping you succeed and in impact people’s lives around the world,” he said Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau.
In addition, Selina Wen, Chief Representative to the EU Institutions and Vice President of Public Affairs for Europe at Huawei, said young leaders “have played and will continue to play an important role in the digital era, at a time when the enabling power of technology should be further harnessed to address the most pressing social challenges”.
“The projects you have presented are exactly what the real world is calling for,” she said.
Fellows’ project ideas span various fields, including inclusive healthcare, innovative digital skills training, efficient energy storage, and circular economy.
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