Natasha Litherland first connected with the British Council through the Youth Connect: Tech for Humanity hackathon in Paris. The experience led her to Scotland for a study trip with 26 young people from across Europe and Oman, building a network to engage with UK institutions and inspire positive social change.
‘I’m currently studying Computer Engineering and Global Design – fields which, in my opinion, sit precisely at the intersection of technology and human-centred thinking, which the Youth Connect programme addresses.
One of the most impactful takeaways from the hackathon was gaining a deeper understanding of the political and ethical dimensions of technology […]. I appreciated how the programme highlighted the broader ecosystem of innovation, introducing us to various actors and perspectives that shape the tech landscape.
The hackathon strengthened both technical and soft skills, while the study trip helped me develop networking and public speaking confidence, learn how AI can be used in the humanities […], and explore start-ups, robotics, and applied technology. Connecting with experts using Large Language Models (LLMs) for language preservation was especially inspiring and affirming.'
Natasha was recently selected for the steering committee of UNESCO’s Global Youth Community, ready to apply her British Council experience to future projects — a testament to the lasting impact of Youth Connect.