Empowering Indigenous and Local Community Youth for Sustainable World

Young people across the globe are at the forefront of the climate justice movement and have been advocating for the protection of land over development at the global, national, and local levels. Whether in the streets or in decision-making spaces, they are holding world leaders accountable to the objectives of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. Honoring this, the theme of International Youth Day 2023 (August 12) is Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World.

Indigenous and local community youth groups from across Asia and their allies will be celebrating International Youth Day by convening a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration among Indigenous and local community youth, community leaders, policymakers, environmental experts, youth activists, philanthropists, and funding agencies. The event will also serve as a prelude to the key messages and recommendations of a collaborative report, which will be published in full later this year.

The webinar will highlight and amplify the voices and perspectives of Indigenous and local community youth in Asia who are the custodians of traditional knowledge and stewards of their ancestral lands. These youths are agents of change and play a crucial role in protecting and defending the region’s lands, waters, and natural resources.

• Build solidarity among Indigenous and local community youth in Asia and other youth organizations around the world;
• Showcase the ongoing work of these organizations to a broader global audience; and
• Make the case for increasing financial support to these emerging future leaders.

Agenda*

*Schedule listed according to BKK time zone

18:00 – 18:05—Welcome and Housekeeping

• Archana Soreng, Co-Lead, Asia Youth Program, RRI
• Kim Falyao, Council Member, AIYP

18:05 – 18:15—Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address

• Ned Tuguinay, President, AIYP

18:15 – 19:00—Voices of Asia Indigenous and Local Community Youth

• Kim Falyao, Council Member, AIYP (Moderator)
• Febriani P. Sumual, General Secretary, BPAN, Indonesia (Moderator)
• Sabba Maharjan, Executive Council Member, AIYP
• Apriliska Titahena, Indigenous Youth Front of the Archipelago, BPAN, Indonesia
• Ayisha Siddiqa, United Nations Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change 2023-2025
• Apsana Kafle, Youth Engagement Champion, Board of Trustees, RECOFTC
• Lakshmi K., NPVTG India

19:00 – 19:30—Networking and Cultural Exchange

• Archana Soreng, Co-Lead, Asia Youth Program, RRI (Moderator)
• Siti Marfu’ah, Dynamist, KATA Indonesia (Moderator)
• BPAN, Indonesia
• Dhaarchidi, India

19:30 – 19:45—Elder Discussion

• Deepak Minz, Youth Council, AIYP (Moderator)
• Simran Maharjan, Indigenous Youth Activist, Nepal (Moderator)
• Gam A. Shimray, Secretary General, AIPP
• Dr. David Ganz, Executive Director, RECOFTC
• Dr. Solange Bandiaky-Badji, Coordinator, RRI

19:45 – 20:00—Social Media Call to Action and Closing Ceremony

• Simran Maharjan, Nepal
• Kim Falyao, Council Member, AIYP
• Archana Soreng, Co-Lead, Asia Youth Program, RRI