KUCHING, May 23: Seventeen youth attending Sarawak Youth Green Leaders Workshop 2023 held on May 20—21 took part in sessions which exposed them to areas such as biodiversity policy, systems thinking, Indigenous Persons and Local Communities (IPLC), governmental roles, and guidance on running effective environmental education programmes.
According to a press release, the programme also included a fireside chat with field experts and professionals working on environmental conservation such as Cynthia Chin, Sylvia Ng, and Lau Chai Ming.
“I find the programme very informative and meaningful as it provided us with an opportunity to reflect on the status of Sarawak’s biodiversity, how different topics such as plastic pollution, wildlife trade, climate change, and habitat loss are all inter-related, and how different policies come into place,” said participant Edwin Lin.
Another participant, Karmilah Abdullah, said it was an opportunity to engage with like-minded young people, gain valuable knowledge, and understand where contributions can be made on pressing environmental issues.
“The workshop provided an immersive experience that not only deepened my understanding of environmental challenges but also inspired me to take action towards a sustainable future,” Karmilah said.
The programme brought together people from various backgrounds, nationalities, ages, ethnicities, and religions. Students, artists, researchers, accountants, lecturers, startups and social enterprises, and wildlife enforcers were among those who attended the workshop.
“I hope to see more conservation events for youth in the future to empower them to become conservation stewards and leaders in their own communities,” says workshop participant Jenny Ngeian Machau.
The programme was organised by Sarawak Eco Warriors and Plants for Plastic. It was supported by Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Swinburne Sarawak Green Club, Global Youth Biodiversity Network South East Asia, European Union, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, and CCK Consolidated Holdings Berhad. — DayakDaily
