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https://digi.com.my/media/articleURLhereWhichCanbeReallyLong

NEWS RELEASE

For immediate publication

Leading Malaysians Youth Innovators to Represent Digi at Telenor Youth Forum Asia 2016

Telenor's Global Thought Leadership Forum comes to Asia for the first time.
Finding solutions to some of the most daunting challenges facing Asia's youth.

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 MAY 2016 - Five Malaysian youths will represent Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd ("Digi") and Malaysia at the first-ever Asian edition of Telenor's global youth thought leadership forum to be held in Bangkok. Telenor Youth Forum Asia will focus on finding solutions to solve some of the most pressing youth issues in Asia ranging from youth unemployment to dialogue and access surrounding less talked about topics, such as mental health.

The five Malaysians will join 23 other youths who are all alumni of the global Telenor Youth Forum from the past three years, representing Telenor's six markets in Asia including Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Thailand.

Quah Yean Nie, Head of Communications of Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd said, "We are glad that five of Malaysia's future leaders who took part in Telenor Youth Forums for the past three years, will get this opportunity to participate and make their voices heard in addressing some of the pressing issues affecting Asian youth in today's rapidly changing world. Born into a digital age, they are the perfect group of people to share ideas and come up with possible solutions as they are passionate about social causes and believe that the power of technology can create action and real change."

They are:

Farah Fauzi, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) undergraduate student in International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), is an advocate for female economic empowerment and is interested in cyber law.
Wong Gwen Yi, a young social entrepreneur with a big dream to ultimately change the lives of 30 million people.
Yong Wei Shian, an activist in reducing food wastage in Malaysia, comprising unconsumed and near-expiry food from restaurants and hotels.
Christine Cheah, an advocate for cancer communities to stay connected to support groups via a virtual sharing and learning environment.
Heidy Quah, a student and founder of Refuge for the Refugees aimed at raising awareness and educating refugees.

The delegates will be organised into teams and be guided by world-class mentors and speakers from organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF Global Innovation Centre and the Nobel Peace Center, who will provide expert resources for strategy building, design planning and solution delivery. The event will also include keynotes by Sigve Brekke, President and CEO of Telenor Group, and Liv Torres, Executive Director of the Nobel Peace Center.

"By reconnecting our markets' brightest, most engaged and tech-savvy youth to address challenges facing their peers in Asia, we hope to see creative solutions that inspire scalable programs that will empower youth in the region," said Brekke. "As we pilot the Telenor Youth Forum in Asia, we are not only furthering our commitment to an inclusive digital future, but also expanding this formerly Oslo-based programme into a year-round cycle of dialogue and production."

Tackling Five Challenges for Asia
During the course of the two-day forum, participants will develop actionable solutions to five key challenges that have been outlined for youth in Asia:

Fighting youth joblessness: Youth unemployment in Asia is more than double the rate of the total working population and working poverty is significantly higher for workers in younger age brackets. How can Asia realistically decrease youth unemployment and how can technology assist in this challenge?
Getting more girls in schools: In South Asian countries, eight girls for every 10 boys are enrolled in secondary education, while three women for every four men are enrolled in tertiary education. What solutions are possible to address gender inequality in education and can technology lead social change?
Educating young laborers: Children who are forced to work to sustain their families lose out on opportunities for education and development. How can child or youth workers be reached with innovative solutions such as mobile education programs, in order to provide them with both education and a safe environment to gain self-confidence and critical thinking skills?
Breaking the taboo of mental health: Adolescence is the age when mental health issues first surface and young people are at greater risk of dying of suicide and violence. Depression and eating disorders are also on the rise in Asia, but dialogue on these topics remains limited. How can technology play a role in reducing taboos around mental health and provide new channels for access and inclusion?
Engaging youth in nation dialogue: Young people comprise approximately half of Asia's population and there is an urgent need to incorporate youth perspectives into national development and the political process. How can technology help overcome barriers to civil participation among youth and encourage democracy, voting, and inclusion into the formal political process?

Telenor Youth Forum Asia 2016 will take place from May 25-26 in Bangkok, Thailand. The standout solution presented by the five teams will be featured at the fourth Telenor Youth Forum to be in Oslo, Norway during the Nobel Peace Prize week in December.

For more information on Digi's Challenge for Change please visit www.digicfc.my.

About Digi
Digi provides mobile voice, internet, and digital services to 12.3 million customers in Malaysia. It is known as a game-changer for the Malaysian telecommunications industry with a solid history of product and service innovation. Over the years Digi has built a solid mobile internet business that enables true connectivity for all Malaysians, creates socio-economic development, helps businesses to grow through use of technology. Digi continues to inspire by giving customers' access to fun and uplifting internet content, and empowering them to share what means most to them. Listed on Bursa Malaysia, it is part of global telecommunications provider Telenor Group and is a leader in driving progressive and responsible business practices. Digi was recognised as one of Forbes' 100 World's Most Innovative Companies in 2014. For more information about Digi, visit www.digi.com.my.

About Telenor Group
Telenor Group is one of the world's major mobile operators with #MoreThan 200 million subscribers. Our 36,000 employees across 13 countries in Europe and Asia work each day to provide connectivity and to make a real difference for people, business and society.

For more information about Telenor Group, please visit www.telenor.com.
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Media Contacts
For media enquiries, please contact Nur Azlyn Abdul Rahman (nurabdur@digi.com.my | +6016 336 3327) or Aarif Ibrahim Hasim (ahasim@webershandwick.com | +6012 270 3645).