Shining in Wuzhen: Youthful Wisdom on Digital Future

As the ancient water town of Wuzhen once again welcomes the World Internet Conference (WIC), a group of young leaders from around the world are bringing fresh ideas and tangible actions to shape a shared digital future for humanity.

Selected through the 2025 WIC Global Youth Leadership Program, these 20 WIC global youth leaders from 20 countries and regions, including Germany, India, Egypt and Brazil, represent a diverse range of frontier fields—from artificial intelligence and digital governance to cybersecurity and social innovation. They stand out not only for their professional excellence but also for their sense of mission and commitment to advancing social progress.

From Kyrgyzstan, Zununova Nuriza, a student at Issyk-Kul State Technical University named after I. Razzakov, has been exploring software development and robotics. She has led her team in developing practical innovations such as an automatic irrigation system and an intelligent intercom device. Her "Taptik" navigation system, designed for the visually impaired, helps overcome mobility barriers with human-centered technology. In another major project, "AMED," she helped develop user-friendly mobile applications and enterprise platforms for pharmaceutical industry, and contributed to building small-scale delivery robots to improve access to medicine.

From Tanzania, Millenium Anthony advocates for greater youth participation in digital policymaking. As ITU Generation Connect Youth Envoy and Youth Coordinator of the Tanzania Youth Internet Governance Forum, she works to amplify young voices in national and international internet governance dialogues. In 2024, she was selected as an ICANN 81 fellow, contributing to discussions on internet infrastructure, governance, and equity. She also founded StemHer Network Tanzania, which provides mentorship, digital skills training, and STEM education for girls and young women. Over the past three years, she has emerged as a strong voice on the international stage, promoting inclusive digital policies and youth-driven digital transformation.

Fatou Sarr from Senegal combines expertise in green hydrogen, energy, and climate change with a passion for youth empowerment and internet governance. Since 2018, she has served as a member of the Multi- Advisory Group (MAG) of the African Internet Governance Forum and as a volunteer with the Internet Society Senegal Chapter. Through her initiatives, more than 4,000 young people have received capacity-building training. One of her projects, provides personalized online mentorship that has helped over 8,000 students to access higher education, bridging gaps in youth development and educational equality.

In Germany, Mohammed Alfarra, a medical doctor, is bringing hope to underserved communities through the application of AI in healthcare and education. As founder of the nonprofit Kaun AI, he leads a diverse team of young professionals developing open-source AI tools to support clinical decision-making, enhance medical training, and promote equitable access to health knowledge. The organization has launched pilot projects in medical education, oncology, and nursing, with active centers in Germany, Egypt, Rwanda, and Saudi Arabia, and plans to expand partnerships to the United States and Mexico. His vision is to connect clinicians, researchers, and engineers worldwide to build trustworthy and inclusive AI for healthcare.

As Wuzhen blends its timeless charm with the pulse of innovation, these 20 WIC global youth leaders will soon gather at the 2025 WIC Wuzhen Summit. Their stories may differ, but their shared message is clear: youth are not just witnesses to the digital era—they are its creators.

Meet in Wuzhen, where youth and innovation illuminate the future.