By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Feb 25: Sarawak will bring together over 700 youth leaders from ASEAN and beyond for the third edition of the Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS) 2026, happening from June 24 to 26.
The summit aims to empower young people to shape a sustainable future and take an active role in addressing climate and environmental challenges.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the summit reflects Sarawak’s belief that young people must be at the heart of sustainability and climate conversations.
“When we speak about the future of our planet, we often speak in numbers, degrees of warming, hectares of forest, rising sea levels, economic forecasts. But the future is not a statistic. It is a generation. It is the young people who will inherit the consequences of today’s decisions, and who will define the direction of tomorrow’s solutions,” he said when officiating the launch of RAYS 2026 at Borneo Cultures Museum today.
Abdul Karim added that RAYS empowers young leaders by equipping them with knowledge, skills, and networks to protect vital ecosystems.
“RAYS resonates deeply with our collective mission to safeguard our environment for future generations. More than just a summit, RAYS is a movement, uniting young minds to confront one of humanity’s greatest challenges: building a sustainable future,” he said.
The minister highlighted that RAYS 2026 will feature 30 workshops, 16 plenary sessions, and a mix of youth-led and policy-focused sessions to ensure participants actively shape the discussions.
Delegates will also join the opening day of the Rainforest World Music Festival 2026, linking culture, sustainability, and community.
Abdul Karim also announced the RAYS ASEAN Access Fund, providing financial support for youth aged 18 to 30 across ASEAN to cover travel and accommodation costs, with applications closing on March 30, 2026.
Additionally, the RAYS Fellowship Programme was launched, selecting 10 to 15 young leaders for a 12-month journey to continue their work beyond the summit through governance, community engagement, and applied action.
He emphasised that Sarawak’s rainforests and deep peatlands provide a living classroom for youth discussions on sustainability.
The first four confirmed speakers are Diwigdi Valiente (Panama), Tori Tsui (United Kingdom), Isaias Hernandez (United States), and Elizabeth Wathuti (Kenya), with more to be announced.
“RAYS 2026 is not merely an event in June. It is a platform for sustained youth leadership, applied learning, and regional cooperation. It is an investment in resilience, collaboration, and the generation that will carry forward the responsibility of stewardship,” he said.
Applications for RAYS 2026 will close on 30 March 2026; candidates can submit their applications and find registration details online at https://www.rainforestyouthsummit.com.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Deputy Minister of Tourism Datuk Sebastian Ting, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat, STB chairman Dato Dennis Ngau, Permanent secretary for MTCP Morshidi Frederick, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Dzulkornain Masron and STB chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh Askor. — DayakDaily
