KEY TAKEAWAYS
Bridging environmental cooperation across ASEAN and JAPAN
The AJYELN serves as a regional network of young environmental advocates with a passion and commitment to changing behaviors towards sustainable environment and futures.
Empowering the youth to be leaders of today
Through its mentoring design and funding system, AJYELN nurtures and empowers young environmental leaders who have innovative ideas about how to solve regional and global environmental issues, such as plastic pollution and marine plastic waste.
Thirty-seven (37) high school students aged 15-18 years old from all 10 ASEAN countries and Japan presented their projects addressing plastic pollution in the official online launch of the ASEAN-Japan Young Environmental Leaders’ Network (AJYELN) on Thursday, September 21 in Tokyo.
Mr. Michihiro Oi, Director of Marine Environment Division, Ministry of Environment Japan formally opened the launch with his Opening Remarks, where he emphasized the vital role of AJYELN in creating a foundation for multi-stakeholder action in the region to address the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and plastic pollution.
Mr. Robin Takashi Lewis, Co-founder of myMizu and Representative Director of Social Innovation Japan delivered the Keynote Speech. He highlighted the concept of co-creation in making environmental projects more impactful by collaborating with other organizations and agents of change to reach a wider audience, through the example of his social impact project myMizu. He also emphasized the value of self-care for young leaders, and to not let external judgment and perception of themselves to hinder them from reaching their full potential.
Mr. Senjaya Mulia, Founder of ASEAN Youth Organization (AYO) highlighted his organization’s support of the AJYELN program and its fellows in creating more cooperation among the youths of ASEAN and Japan. AJC’s Secretary General re-emphasized the Centre’s commitment to empower the youth in the region and give them space to contribute to impactful changes in their communities and countries.
The 37 fellows from 10 ASEAN countries and Japan presented their projects, and their insights and aspirations as young environmental leaders and what they hope to achieve during their tenure as AJYELN fellows in 2023. The following lists the 37 fellows from each country and the 11 projects that the first batch of fellows will implement this year:
Fellows:
Nur Alyaa Hafezah binti Rizal (Head of Project)
Nurafiqah Musfirah binti Huzaimi (Finance Manager)
Nurul Afiqah binti Hasnan (Operational Manager)
Auni binti Ahmad Aidil Aliyusah (Communications Manager)
Supervised by Mr. Haji Muhammad Zuwaini bin Haji Aliyani
Mentored by Ms. Nurlatifah
School: Ma’had Islam Brunei Tutong
Fellows:
Ms. DOUNG Sreynit
Ms. NY Meaneat
Mr. HENG Sienge
Mr. HENG Laychhoung
Supervised by Ms. Tep CHANSOLYKA
Mentored by Ms. Srey Pich Poeung
School: E2STEM Education Preah Yukunthor
Fellows:
Kendra Jovita Amadea
Muliara Sakila
Nadia Aulia
Susila Lestari
Supervised by Muhammad Syamsul S.Pd and Khairani Hanum
School: State SHS Seribu Bukit / SMA Negeri Seribu Bukit
Mentored by Ms. Nurlatifah
Fellows:
Ms. Alisia SAPHALDY
Ms. Thipmala KEONAMMAVONG
Ms. Vankham SIBOUNTHAN
Mr. Phyraphol PHOLSENA
Supervised by Mr. Vilaphong SENGDARA
Mentored by Mr. Songphathay Luangmuninthone
School: Pathana School
Fellows:
Yayoi Nagashima（永島やよい）
Nadeshiko Akita（秋田撫子）
Supervised by Hiroki Kato（加藤弘輝）
Mentored by Ms. Haruna Masuda
School: Hiroshima Jogakuin High School（広島女学院高校）
Fellows:
JIA XUAN, Lee
SINGAM, Shreena Alisha
DEO, Isha Narissa Kaur
NANTHE KUMAR, Livvashini
Supervised by Puan Mardiah binti Abdul Latiff
Mentored by Dr. Yasmin Fauzee
School: SMK Aminuddin Baki
Fellows:
Min Thant Kyaw
Hnin Wint Htal
Kyi Sin Thant
Phoo Pwint Aung
Supervised by Thwe Zin Soe
Mentored by Dr. Thant Zin Tun
School: No. 2 Basic Education High School Pathein
Fellows:
Angeline Tamisin (Leader)
Kenji Sai (Finance)
Catherine Abella (Promotions)
Gabriela Corpuz (Logistics)
Supervised by Ms. Sharon Imperial & Ms. Shane Alfaro
Mentored by Ms. Aurora Tinio
School: Ateneo de Davao University
Fellows:
Tai Yu Xiang
Ong Hui Ling
Abel Thong Kai En
Kua Kai Yi
Supervised by Ms. Talisa Khaur Dhaliwal
Mentored by Dr. Katrina Navallo
School: Pei Cai Secondary School
Fellow:
Poonyaporn Intaphrom (Fai)
Supervised by Ms. Pornnapat Mangsungnurn
Mentored by Mr. Nam Anh Tran
School: Chiang Mai University Demonstration School
Fellow:
Pham Thi Khanh, Linh, Han Tran Bao Chau
Supervised by Ms. Dao Thi Hien and Ms. Tran Thi Van
Mentored by Mr. Nam Anh Tran
School: Yen Lac Secondary School
AJYELN is ASEAN-Japan’s Centre (AJC) flagship program that aims to nurture and raise young environment leaders by providing a seed fund of 100,000JPY to finance all or part of their project implementation that addresses plastic pollution in their communities. Out of hundreds of young applicants in the region, 37 students were selected to represent their countries and become part of the network. They received leadership and project management training from young environmental advocates in Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and currently being mentored by young members of AJC. This mentoring system is a unique feature of the network; upon completion of their tenure as fellows, they will become part of an alumni network, who will then mentor the incoming batch of fellows. This mentoring system is like that of senpai-kouhai relations in Japanese context, and aims to create a rich and deep connection of young leaders, whom they can learn from.
The outcomes of the 11 projects will be featured in a capstone symposium sometime in March 2024. Further announcements will be made on the opening of applications for AJYELN 2024 in January 2024. The AJC partners with the following organizations to implement the AJYELN project: ASEAN Youth Organization; East Asia Regional Knowledge Center for Marine Plastic Debris (ERIA-RKCMPD) in Jakarta; the Science, Technology and Environment Partnership (STEP) Centre, Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam; Ministry of Environment, Cambodia; Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lao PDR; Ministry of Environment, Japan; Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines; and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Malaysia, and ASEAN Secretariat.
To view online the recorded video of the Launch, please visit: AJYELN Launch Ceremony on Sept. 21, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan
