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Malawi youth delegate recounts 1,800‑mile visa journey, urges action on inclusion
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Summary
A youth delegate from Malawi described long, costly travel and visa barriers to attend the IGF, and called for greater attention to financial and bureaucratic obstacles that limit participation from the global South.
Jacqueline Jijide (transcript: Jacqueline Digide), a youth representative and digital inclusion practitioner from Malawi, told the closing session she traveled roughly 1,800 miles by bus to apply for a Schengen visa and faced delays that almost kept her from attending the IGF.
"I had to travel over 1,800 miles by bus to Pretoria, South Africa. My journey took 4 grueling days including a breakdown on the way. I arrived in Pretoria with sore legs, exhausted, and determined to be here," Jacqueline said, describing hurdles that other global South delegates also faced.
Jacqueline said her experience reflected broader barriers to participation for young people from low‑resource countries and commended the IGF Secretariat and Norway for support that helped some delegates attend. She said the forum and similar spaces must make it easier for young people to participate and that grassroots digital inclusion work matters.
Why it matters: delegates and organizers repeatedly noted that voices from the global South and youth perspectives are essential to shaping inclusive digital governance. Norwegian officials and the IGF Secretariat were thanked in the session for assistance, but delegates said bureaucratic and logistical barriers remain.
Jacqueline, who said she mentors more than 10,000 young people across Malawi, urged that local digital literacy, training in schools, and funding for inclusion be prioritized so youth can meaningfully engage in policy processes.
