Fighting for Real Teen Inclusion
The Dynamic Teen Coalition (DTC) is a movement of teens demanding access, shaping policy, and creating infrastructure that didn't exist before us at the United Nations.
DTC is merit-based, participation-driven, and impact-oriented. We create and contribute across the entire UN ecosystem, from policy networks to global consultations, offering direct teen access to decision-making spaces never explicitly designed for us.
The Three Waves of the DTC Movement
From disruption to infrastructure to global impact
Disruption
2022–2023
At IGF 2022 in Ethiopia, 14-year-old Pyrate Ruby Passell asked why there were no teens in the UN 'Youth' track. That single question disrupted a global system built on the outdated belief that 'youth' begins at 18, erasing teen voices entirely. She joined the IGF 2023 Youth Planning Committee while contributing to the Global Digital Compact. As part of the UN Foundation's inaugural Engine Room cohort, she advanced teen roles in digital governance across multiple UN platforms. When the IGF Secretariat asked her to create a Teen Dynamic Coalition in 2023, we built a teen movement that launched in March 2024.
Infrastructure & Beta
2024
DTC formed its first Board, secured teen seats across UN Working Groups, Policy Networks, and Dynamic Coalitions, and contributed to and endorsed the Global Digital Compact. With support from UN partners, we launched the DTC Friends 24 Beta Discord—the UN's first Discord server for asynchronous global governance. Pyrate Ruby piloted the first TikTok Certificate, a microcredential recognizing teen-led advocacy through short-form media and policy engagement.
Public, Permanent, and Powerful
2025
As Amrith Kumar steps into Co-Chair to lead IGF work, Pyrate Ruby shifts focus to dismantling ageism across the UN system. Already a force in global digital governance, she mentored in the UN's first Citiverse Challenge and was named a UN Foundation Engine Room Changemaker. The DTC Friends 25 Discord Server now thrives as a living ecosystem where teens worldwide participate in real-time digital governance. DTC powers the Digital Governance Network (DGN), connecting teen-led Discord communities globally. We are building the future, systematically, collaboratively, and from the inside out.
How DTC Works
Multiple pathways for engagement and impact
DTC Friend
Anyone of any age. Join the DTC Friends Discord server, introduce yourself, and get involved.
DTC Friends 25 Certificate
Earned by teens through contribution and participation. A formal record of your engagement.
DTC Ambassador
Our trained, outward-facing representatives. Microcertified and actively engaged in global work.
DTC Board
The core of DTC's direction and strategy. Teen-led, globally connected, focused on outcomes.
📢 DTC in Action: Very Recent UN Event Highlights
We spoke with purpose, from ECOSOC to the IGF, defending teen rights and building up our lifelong, inclusive multistakeholder model.
ECOSOC
Anusha & Anvay went to the UN NY in person to deliver high-level teen rights policy conversations
DCCG
Amrith spoke on civil rights and the glaring lack of structural inclusion
ITU Citiverse
Pyrate Ruby mentored multiple university teams who are building future cities now with teens in mind
Our Future Agenda Engine Room
Pyrate Ruby is the first under 18 Changemaker for UN Partnerships
WSIS+20
Alia, Amrith & Netra introduced our inclusive lifelong multistakeholder model to evolving global frameworks, where Dr. Vint Cerf agreed to take the model to the IGF Leadership Panel
GDC Townhall
Amrith pushed our inclusive lifelong multistakeholder model to structurally include teens at the UN and in all digital governance
IGF 2025
Amrith (x2) & Aditya fought for our inclusive, lifelong multistakeholder model, and against blanket teen bans online
WSIS+20 Co-Facilitator Consultations
Amrith and Netra demanded structural protection of teen civil rights in their Elements Paper
HLPF
onsite at the UN NY again, Anusha & Aditya spotlighted weak teen safeguarding & the need for true teen-centered accountability
Our Works
Building infrastructure, shaping policy, and creating real change
Digital Governance Network
Building global infrastructure linking teen-led communities
UN Citiverse Challenge
Mentoring university students on frontier technologies and governance
DTC Friends Discord Platform
The UN's first global Discord platform for teen engagement
Ageism Study
Comprehensive analysis of age-based discrimination in digital spaces
Teen Ban Mapping Project
Documenting age-based discrimination across platforms and laws
Global Digital Compact
DTC was invited to, contributed to, and endorsed the GDC
Digital Governance Network
Strategic Allies advancing teen inclusion in global governance
Our founding Allies share our vision of authentic youth participation in digital governance. Together, we're building the infrastructure for sustainable teen leadership in global policy spaces.
DGN Founding Allies
Immunova AI
Eve Ang
Founder of Immunova AI
HackWithHer
Bandana Kaur
Cybersecurity Researcher
DGN Allies
Strategic Allies advancing teen inclusion in digital governance
The NeuroCove Foundation
Helping immigrants access mental health resources and get the care they need at such a critical period. An international community with high school members across 9 different countries and 4 continents making a difference in their communities.
TechMinds Community
An international STEM education community providing electrical science and STEM programs to underserved students globally. Breaking the norm that STEM is just a bookish subject by making it fun, innovative, and collaborative.
Aequitas STEM
A nonprofit social enterprise bridging the digital divide and expanding equitable access to STEM education in under-resourced communities through refurbished technology donations, interactive engineering kits, and instructional content delivery.
The Spectrum of Support
A youth-led initiative empowering neurodivergent children who fall into behavioral 'grey zones' and lack access to formal diagnoses or support. Using storytelling, educational programming, and behavioral tools to promote inclusive advocacy.
DTC Leadership
Teen-led leadership driving global change
Pyrate Ruby Passell
Stacy Gildenston
Amrith Kumar
Yuma Soerianto
Boris Hong Pak Lo
Netra Adsaya Senthil
Aditya Majumdar
Bandana Kaur
Jasper Tay Seng Hon
Anusha Sharma
Tejas Karusala
Alia Gupta
Ananya Tara Rajagopalan
Anvay Ajmera
Ahaan Nigam
Ishaan Joshi
Shamser Mubin Chowdhury
Gabriella Luma
Pyrate Ruby Passell
Stacy Gildenston
Amrith Kumar
Yuma Soerianto
Boris Hong Pak Lo
Netra Adsaya Senthil
Aditya Majumdar
Bandana Kaur
Jasper Tay Seng Hon
Anusha Sharma
Tejas Karusala
Alia Gupta
Ananya Tara Rajagopalan
Anvay Ajmera
Ahaan Nigam
Ishaan Joshi
Shamser Mubin Chowdhury
Gabriella Luma
What We Do
We solved the UN's youth problem—by reshaping its governance architecture. DTC builds a teen-led multistakeholder model anchored within UN multilateralism and amplified by Our Future Agenda.
Redefining Participation in UN Governance
We engage as public actors—not guests—across ECOSOC, WSIS+20, HLPF, IGF, and ITU. Our presence expands multilateralism through a grounded multistakeholder base.
Repairing the UN's Age Framework
Over three years, we built and piloted a new multistakeholder age structure. It corrects the systemic erasure of teens (13–19) in UN multistakeholder and multilateral processes.
Exposing Exclusion Across UN Mechanisms
We document teen bans online and ageist procedural blocks at the UN, forming the first global dataset on teen exclusion in governance. Our findings expose systemic failures in how the UN defines, includes, and protects teens.
Designing Intergenerational Participation Models
We prototype new models for shared power between teens and adults, even in virtual worlds. These frameworks are designed to be interoperable across UN and civil society systems.
Developing Infrastructure for Inclusion
We build Discord protocols, microlearning systems, and digital certifications. Our tools translate 'access' into actual participation.
Operating the Digital Governance Network (DGN)
We maintain a live civic backbone of youth-led Discord and Slack servers. The DGN is a multistakeholder engine for real-time, SDG-aligned action.
Amplifying Through Our Future Agenda
We have leadership in the Engine Room of Our Future Agenda to expand reach, visibility, and policy alignment. Together, we push teen-led governance from the margins into the UN mainstream.