Two Pakistani delegates, namely Maieda Janjua from Islamabad and Asma Ladak from Karachi, will represent Pakistan on a global platform for youth that promises to shape the digital future by finding solutions to longstanding social challenges through the use of technology. The two Pakistani delegates will be amongst a group of 16 delegates from Asia and Europe who will discuss ideas with leaders and luminaries within their fields, come up with solutions to tackle global challenges through expert mentoring and realise those ideas through seed funding.
Telenor Youth Forum (TYF) is a unique global platform in collaboration with the Nobel Peace Center that brings together young leaders from around the world to develop digital solutions that reduce inequalities and empower societies. Themed ‘bright minds, reducing inequalities,’ the event supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are a set of targets relating to future international development. With physical gatherings in Oslo and in Bangkok, the Telenor Youth Forum is a six month-long programme that is run in collaboration with the Nobel Peace Center (NPC).
Meet Maieda Janjua and Asma Ladak
Maieda Janjua graduated from Dartmouth last year with a degree in Computer Science. While exploring the tech scene in Pakistan, she became interested in using technology for social good. The idea pitched by her is to create an artificially intelligent chatbot to help address maternal mortality. She hails from Islamabad.
Asma Akbar Ladak who is a doctor in making at the Aga Khan University in Karachi realises the importance of clean water. Her idea for TYF finale is to develop a solar powered water bottle that does two things: purifies dirty water (both microscopically and macroscopically) and condenses atmospheric water vapour to drinkable water.
In the last five seasons of TYF, there have been some outstanding individuals to represent Pakistan that include Saad Hamid, a digital evangelist, Fatima Rizwan, founder of TechJuice.com, Haroon Yasin, founder of Orenda & receiver of Queen’s Young Leaders Award and Sajawal Waseem, winner of TYF 2016/2017, all of whom have made Pakistan proud not only as part of the program but also through their recent achievements and contributions.
While in Oslo, the delegates will participate in a service design program to create a digital service, product or campaign to tackle pressing global challenges. They will also explore the connection between digital technology and peace by participating in the Nobel Peace Prize festivities while in Oslo.
The delegates will continue with the program through the first half of 2019, developing their digital ideas and showcasing them in an online exhibition in collaboration with the Nobel Peace Center.
“In the six years since the Telenor Youth Forum program began, TYF delegates have made big impact across our country and the world. Our TYF delegates represent the best of the best among youth in Pakistan and have made us proud on multiple international platforms through their contributions. They are leaders, they are socially active, digitally savvy and they believe that technology can be used as an instrument for peace and reducing inequalities.” said Irfan Wahab Khan, CEO Telenor Pakistan, while addressing the audience at Telenor Youth Forum finale at Telenor Campus - 345. “We have great expectations from Maieda Janjua and Asma Ladak, and are excited to see them do great things in Oslo and beyond. I am confident that they will continue the tradition of making Pakistan Proud.”
To learn more about the program, visit here.
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