ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )
passionate delegates, aged 18 to 28 years, from different nations, cultures and social backgrounds are meetingin Norway, for the annual forum, #TYF. The Telenor campus at Fornebu will transform to focus on youth, their ideas and how they could shape our digital future. This year’s focus theme is #KnowledgeForAll and delegates’ passions range from teaching apps to Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) and mobile edugaming.
“Our delegates bring unique ideas and thoughts based on multiple perspectives and that are rooted in a range of societal challenges. Most importantly, they see opportunities where others see barriers to making an impact. We want to engage with them to discuss and explore how Telenor and mobile technology can be part of driving inclusive change and improving access to knowledge,” says Sigve Brekke, President & CEO of Telenor Group.
Thought leaders representing Pakistan include Fatima Rizwan and 
Haroon Yasin. Fatima Rizwan is the founder and CEO of TechJuice – Pakistan’s premier technology platform for entrepreneurs that showcases news relating to start-ups, entrepreneurship, education, and technology in Pakistan. She has become a resource hub for Pakistanis to learn and find opportunities in the field. Haroon Yasin, who started a free school in one of the slum villages in Islamabad four years ago, is now developing and testing a Virtual Education Program (VEP), which uses a video based curriculum to formally educate out of school street children. True inspirations in their fields, both Fatima and Haroon are geared up to optimise technology for improving access to knowledge in the country.Read about all 25 delegates here.
This year, Telenor has partnered with the Nobel Peace Center for the popular event, which coincides with the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony week, when the world’s eyes will be on Oslo. This year for the first time, the Nobel Peace Prize Concert will be held at Telenor Arena, Fornebu and live-streamed on YouTube. Comedy heavyweight JayLeno will host and acts such as A-Ha and Kygo will entertain the crowds, including the #TYF15 delegates.
Telenor has invited a number of great minds within education, in information access and technology as speakers at #TYF15. From Norway’s own Minister of Education and Research to a bright young upstart of one of Myanmar’s standout education and technology programs, this year’s speaker line-up is as varied, international and inspiring as they come.
A keynote address will be given by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, responsible for creating a platform that arguably does more to spread #KnowledgeForAll than any other. “I’m excited to be participating in this year’s Telenor Youth Forum. The youth are the future, mobile is the future. The dream of universal access to education is in our grasp,” says Wales.