Theme: “Empowering the youth in tackling marine plastic waste in ASEAN and Japan”
Summary
- A total of 33 young environmental leaders (15-18 years old) in Japan and 8 ASEAN member states (except Cambodia and Lao PDR) have been competitively selected from 62 team applicants from the region.
- On August 28-29, the 33 leaders of AJYELN fellows received intensive mentoring in a two-day environmental leadership mentorship and project management training in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- The AJYELN program implemented 63 marine plastic pollution awareness campaigns and activities in selected communities in 10 ASEAN member states and Japan.
- A total of 17,877 individuals in the region have been reached and actively participated in the activities implemented by the AJYELN fellows in their respective communities. AJYELN has garnered more than 48,000 followers aged 15-35 years old in ASEAN countries and Japan through its social network pages via Facebook and Instagram.
- An total amount of 700,000JPY has been utilized in the implementation of the 63 student-led activities by the AJYELN fellows.
1. Introduction
The ASEAN-Japan Young Environmental Leaders Network (AJYELN) is a network of young regional champions in combating the plastic pollution crisis selected from the 10 ASEAN Member States and Japan. Organized by the ASEAN-Japan Centre, the network promotes youth-led solutions to the plastic pollution issue in the region.
2. Recruitment and selection
The ASEAN-Japan Centre launched the open recruitment from January to May 31, 2024. More than 60 team applications from 8 ASEAN member states and Japan have applied for the program, and 9 teams composed of a total of 33 fellows were selected overall. The applicants were selected based on motivation (20%), scope, outcomes and project impact (35%), project feasibility (20%), and creativity and innovation (25%). The selection committee consists of representatives from the ASEAN-Japan Centre.
3. Implementation activities
- Leadership and project management training: The 33 fellows underwent a 2-day environmental leadership and project management training program on August 28-29 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Co-organized with ASEAN Youth Organization, a leading youth network in ASEAN and recipient of the 2024 ASEAN Prize, the fellows received marine plastic waste awareness training from the ERIA Regional Knowledge Center on Marine Plastic Debris, and engaged in dialogue sessions with ASEAN Secretariat Environment Division Head, Dr. Vong Sok, and Ministry of Japan to Indonesia Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Chujo Kazuo. They also received insights from prominent environmental leaders in Indonesia.
- Disbursement of seed money: In August 2024, each team received 40% of the seed money (40,000JPY) as initial funding to implement their projects. Based on their respective project budgets, each team can utilize up to a maximum of 100,000JPY. In total, around 700,000JPY was disbursed to fund 63 marine plastic pollution awareness campaigns and activities in selected communities in 10 ASEAN member states and Japan.
4. Project implementation
The AJYELN fellows implemented their projects from August 2024 to January 2025. A total of 63 AJYELN activities were conducted across 8 ASEAN member states and Japan. These included among others, drama performances on the impact of plastic pollution in Kampung Ayer in Brunei, beach cleanups in Bali, Indonesia, and Langkawi, Malaysia, development of casein as an alternative material to plastic in Sapporo, Japan, poster-making contests in Yangon, Myanmar, workshops on the use of plastic-free fishing equipment on a fishing community in Cebu, Philippines, interview video series on the youth’s perspective on plastic consumption in Singapore, mangrove planting in Samut Songkhram, Thailand, and plastic upcycling camps in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Capstone symposium: To be organized in a hybrid manner on March 13, 2025 at the ASEAN Hall, ASEAN-Japan Centre Office in Tokyo, Japan.
5. Impact
6. International engagements
- Regional engagements: The accomplishments and contributions to regional cooperation of the AJYELN program have been presented and recognized in the following regional working group and environmental meetings:
- ASEAN Working Group on Environmental Education on their quarterly meeting on July 10, 2024; and
- 18th ASEAN-Japan Dialogue on Environmental Cooperation on July 31, 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
- UN engagement: The AJYELN was featured as an online presenter in a youth-led side event during the Convening of Youth for the Future of Coral Reefs, Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on 29 October 2024, in Colombia, organized by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), and International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).
7. Feedback
Brunei fellows
Angelina Lau Eng Oi – I loved and appreciated that in the AJYELN program, no question is unacceptable to ask and no answer is wrong or right. This provided a free space for me and the fellows to share our thoughts and opinions. It felt comfortable and accepting, inducing our participation in finding a solution. I also loved how passionate the other fellows are in this journey and project, as well as just how friendly they are. I can say the same for the organisers and managers that are absolutely hospitable.
Indonesia fellows
Vanessa Lee – AJYELN has provided me with valuable hands-on experience in tackling environmental issues, especially plastic pollution. It has widened my perspective and provided a strong foundation for my future endeavors in sustainability. I am grateful for the mentorship and guidance I have received from this program, which has been influential in how to effectively run an environmental organization.
Japan fellows
Koji Nagahama – I had the experience of making a step-by-step plan by the deadline. Also, talking with foreign people was fun. These experiences can make use in my life.
Malaysia fellows
Nur Intessar – The program’s comprehensive structure greatly enhanced my project management skills and fostered my growth into a responsible leader. Its commitment to a noble cause was truly inspiring. I had the opportunity to engage with youths from various countries and network with esteemed professionals in the environmental industry. This experience boosted my confidence, enabling me to advocate passionately for my beliefs while refining my attention to detail.
Myanmar fellows
Han Thar Htet – One of the things I enjoyed most as an AJYELN fellow was the autonomy to take on new responsibilities and explore creative approaches in a supportive and flexible environment. I had the freedom to experiment, apply my skills, and push myself to learn more while working on an important issue. Being part of this program also made me feel like I was invited to be part of a larger movement. Connecting with fellows from other countries helped me see how we are all working toward a shared vision, yet each of us has our own approach to fit the different conditions of our communities. AJYELN gave me the push I needed to step out of my comfort zone and try things I didn’t have the confidence to do before. While working on the project with my team, I learned how to collaborate and understand different work styles, and the experiences I gained along the way have made me more confident in taking initiative. I feel better prepared now to work on future projects and more motivated to connect with people to continue the momentum.
Philippines fellows
Jana Sofia Hupp: I greatly appreciate how my community work and friends from AJYELN have made environmental advocacy feel tangible. My future as an envrionmental defender will be deeply shaped by my experiences as an AJYLEN fellow. This program provided me with knowledge, a supportive network, confidence, and a critical perspective on sustainability and environmental justice. It has connected me with passionate individuals, reminding me that this fight is never one we take on alone.
Singapore fellows
Teo Yi Ting Joy: The AJYELN program empowered me to turn my passion for sustainability into action. Instead of focusing solely on personal efforts, I collaborated with my team to educate the public on marine plastic pollution. This experience taught me the importance of taking initiative and using available resources to create real impact. Without AJYELN, my ideas would have remained just that—ideas.
Thailand fellows
As AJYELN fellows, we faced several challenges throughout the program. Many found teamwork and communication to be a significant adjustment, as they had to collaborate with new people and work effectively in a group setting. The necessity of using English for communication was another common challenge, as it required them to step out of their comfort zones and interact with diverse individuals. Additionally, financial management was a concern for some of us, as we needed to allocate their budgets wisely to organize their activities. Despite these difficulties, we embraced the challenges and sought ways to overcome them.
Viet Nam fellows
Phan Thuy Binh: I struggled with juggling project activities and schoolwork. The challenges that AJYELN brought, however, helped me improve myself, especially my time management skills. I was also able to boost my teamwork skills and learn how to communicate effectively, which will definitely be useful in the future.
8. Supporting ministries and organizations
- ASEAN Secretariat Environment Division
- Japan Ministry of Environment
- Brunei Ministry of Education STEP Centre
- Cambodia Ministry of Environment
- Lao PDR Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
- Malaysia Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change
- Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environment Management Bureau
- Viet Nam Ministry of Environment
- East Asia Research Institute – Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (ERIA-RKCMPD)
- ASEAN Youth Organization (AYO)
Contacts
Katrina Navallo, PhD (katrina@asean.or.jp)
AJYELN Program Manager
ASEAN-Japan Centre
info_rpa@asean.or.jp
Research and Policy Advocacy Team
ASEAN-Japan Centre
