Astro is banking on the country’s youth population to generate fresh and innovative ideas to win a berth at this year’s United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UN GAID) Global Youth Forum to be held from 21 – 24 October in Armenia.

Astro is banking on the country’s youth population to generate fresh and innovative ideas to win a berth at this year’s United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UN GAID) Global Youth Forum to be held from 21 – 24 October in Armenia.

The competition is an integral marketing initiative by Astro in its commitment to nurturing the Malaysian youth segment in demonstrating their creative and social skills in the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) arena.

“It is imperative that we cultivate the promise and potential of our youth, particularly now that change – political, economic, social, environment, cultural and social – is dramatically affecting our lives,” says Khairul Mizan, Channel Manager Astro RIA. “We are dedicated to investing in our youth, one of our country’s most valuable resources, and empowering them in taking a leadership role in our society.”

Astro, the proud sponsor of the Malaysian Chapter of the UN GAID Global Youth Forum, is organizing a nationwide competition for Malaysian youths aged 18 – 25 years (individual or two members per team) to select one or incorporate all of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UN MDGs) in a written document, a 3 - 5 minute video, or a prototype, as an active representation demonstrating their strategies, plans and solutions in addressing and achieving these goals.

The eight UN Millennium Development Goals are:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV / AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

Submission deadline for all entries is 11:59 pm on 25 September. The selected top three entries will be awarded an all-expenses paid trip to participate and showcase their work at the 2008 UN GAID Global Youth Forum in Armenia.

ICT is an exciting platform for youths to network and express themselves instantly and seamlessly across borders without censorship.

“The aim of this competition is to facilitate a connection among youths towards a cause that benefits the global society through the power of ICT,” states Khairul. “One of our primary CSR goals is scaling their talents in multimedia, broadcasting and communications applications.”

The Astro team plans to embark on a college road show to encourage youths to participate in the competition. Interested participants can also register and submit their entries via the Astro website by visiting www.astro.com.my/themalaysianchapter

This is the second year that Astro is participating in the UN GAID Global Youth Forum. Malaysian winners of the competition will be announced at an awards presentation on 15 October.