Applications open for ASEAN youth eco-leaders in Cambodia

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Youth Volunteer Programme (AYVP) is inviting 50 ASEAN youth volunteers to be part of the ASEAN Youth Eco-Leaders to be held in Cambodia Aug. 2-29.

The program is open to all 18-30 years old youth  who have who have   passion for caring for  environment and serving communities in need, preferably with experience or training in water supply, rural development, sanitation and wastewater, and committed to implementing a project that can potentially benefit their own hometown.

The program is joint partnership between UniversitiKebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), in collaboration with USAID, ASEAN Secretariat, Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports Cambodia, and UN Volunteers. 

Calvin Tan, AYVP 2013 alumni from Singapore,  said the activity is a good program that will mould young minds to be involved in environmental protection.

Meanwhile, Alanna Jay Lynn Tan, AYVP 2013 alumni from Malaysia, said that the program is an opportunity for young people to be involved in community service through engagement and empowerment of young people as volunteers for environmental development.

The volunteers will be equipped with leadership competencies through workshops and hands-on activities as they work with each other and local communities to discover the ASEAN identity and the role that ASEAN youth can play in the community, with a specific focus on the environment.  On site, they will engage the Krakor Floating Village in projects related to water sanitation, personal hygiene and waste management.

The first four days will be spent near the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Two weeks will be spent on project site – at Krakor Floating Village, otherwise known as KompongLuong, at Pursat province which is  four hours away from the city center.

Volunteers are also expected to carry out their own community projects that will contribute to the conservation of ASEAN’s environment. Successful proposals will be awarded seed grants with a maximum value of USD2,000.00.

Interested applicants can apply online via  http://ayvpform.asiaengage.org.

Deadline of application will be midnight of March 8, 2015. Only shortlisted volunteers will be notified. 

There were 13 Filipinos, two of them from the Cordillera, who participated  in AYVP 2013 in Malaysia and whose  projects under  the AYP  multiplier programme are now  involving more youth in environmental protection activities in schools and communities. -- Sonny Cosme