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UNESCO
UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Represented by Irina Bokova, Director-General, UNESCO
“The Millennium Development Goals and the objectives of the World Summit on the Information Society embody a collective aspiration for a better future for all societies. Young men and women stand at the heart of this aspiration – as leaders, actors and beneficiaries. UNESCO works across the world to support their capacities and to enhance their participation into all decisions involving their future. We seek specifically to bolster youth-led innovation and youth employability through...
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UNCTAD
United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD)
Represented by Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General, UNCTAD
“I warmly congratulate the winners of the 2012 World Summit Youth Awards, as well as each and every participant. By harnessing new technologies to raise awareness of contemporary social issues and development challenges, these young creators of digital content are making a crucial contribution towards progress, on multiple fronts. Their creativity, design skill and sense of innovation, combined with their dedication to making a difference in the achievement of the...
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Kandeh K. Yumkella
Director-General, UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization
"In my work as DG for UNIDO, I firmly believe that, together we can make a difference, as long as we remember that it is always about people, and never about abstract concepts. The winners of the WSYA inspire us with their action and with the way they use the new ICTs to make a difference. The world needs their action! Especially in a time where extreme volatilities in the global fuel, food and financial markets, have sharpened the focus on the economic and social vulnerability of people in all nations, but of those in...
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Michael Spindelegger
Vice-Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, Federal Minister for European & International Affairs
"The Millennium Development Goals provide concrete, numerical benchmarks for tackling extreme poverty in its many dimensions. Modern communication technologies enable and foster a vivid exchange of views and ideas between young people and contribute to breaking down barriers. Where the MDGs are not achieved, young people are suffering in many different ways, but they are increasingly standing up for their rights, their future and the future of youth worldwide. The WSYA honours their...
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Ivo Ivanovski
Minister of Information Society, Republic of Macedonia
“Changes to the world are only sparked by individuals who develop and convey innovative and reforming ideas. These individuals leave an eternal mark in human society, as ones who significantly contributed to achieving what we have in the present.
In today’s digital era, innovations gain different shape, yet they still serve the same purpose. If ICT is the current tool for change, and the youth represent a driving aspiration for new development, then it is our task to empower our new digital entrepreneurs as much as we can.”
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Lynn St. Amour
President & CEO, Internet Society
"The Internet Society congratulates the World Summit Youth Award program and this year’s exceptional winners who used their creativity and technical skills to make an impact on the world. The Internet truly is for everyone and provides a powerful platform that enables people to create, educate, innovate, and collaborate. We applaud the more than 1200 young producers, designers, and developers who participated in this year’s program.”
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Kim Stevenson
CIO, Intel Corporation
"At Intel, we have a vision to create and extend computing technology to connect and enrich the life of every person on earth. Education and access to technology plays an enormous role in the success of this vision. Intel's education programs support enabling governments, students, teachers and universities all over the world to have access to technology and leverage it for building better communities. Together we are building the digital society. The WSYA program and its winners are key actors in the digital transformation; they stand out not just due to their...
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Eveline Herfkens
Founder of the UN Millennium Campaign
"Young people were the favorite allies of the UN Millennium Campaign: passionate, energetic and thinking “outside the box”. Using internet and mobiles to achieve the MDG’s was certainly beyond the frame of mind of government leaders who agreed to these Goals… Tomorrow’s world is defined by action today. So some 20 years from now, when your generation will provide the Secretary General of the UN, she does not need to report once again that the Millennium Goals have not been met as yet. Your action prevented these Goals to end up as litter on yet another...
