The Young Peace-builders for Climate Action (YPCA) aims to strengthen the role of young people in promoting sustainable environmental development in peace-building and governance processes, enhance awareness and develop the potentials of young peace advocates as future leaders in community-based disaster risk reduction and management, climate change adaptation, and conflict prevention.
This accelerator program seeks to gather thirty (30) fellows, ideally between 18-25 years old, from the ten (10) Southeast Asian countries on 26-31 July 2017 in Quezon City, Philippines.
The rigorous program will specifically target fellows from conflict-affected and disaster-prone areas in Southeast Asia and capacitate them with the skills and knowledge they need to take action on issues related to climate change and disaster management.
Program Objectives:
- Promote environmental peace-building as a substantial component for community-based disaster risk reduction and management for conflict-affected communities in Southeast Asia;
- Provide participants with practical knowledge, skills and materials on the “threat multiplier” effects and the complex and dynamic interrelationship between armed conflicts and natural disasters in the context of the Southeast Asia;
- Gain insights from the experiences of Philippine civil society organizations, local government agencies, and local communities that are actively engaged in disaster preparedness and peace-building activities;
- Develop the digital and technical skills of the participants using online tools to communicate issues related to disasters and climate change, as well as existing efforts from different stakeholders to prevent and mitigate them;
- Raise the awareness of the fellows on the important role of public policies and governance processes in climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and peace-building.
- Create a network of emerging peace-builders in Southeast Asia who will conceptualize and mainstream innovative community-based disaster management projects for conflict-affected communities in partnership with different stakeholders, including the governments, schools, business groups, and media, among others; and
- Facilitate actions and exchange of best practices at the local, national and regional levels that fellows can use in sustaining disaster management and peace-building efforts in their respective home communities.
Location:
PhilippinesBenefits
- The program will utilize innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum that will allow the fellows to produce tangible results and impactful initiatives. It will provide a simulation program to enable the fellows to form teams and hone their leadership skills through interactive modules and projects.
- The program will concentrate on enhancing the capacity of the youth in taking action on environmental and governance processes. The fellows will be enrolled in a project accelerator program composed of lectures, workshops, mentorship sessions, outreach and field visits, which will focus on building their skills and knowledge on project management, multi-stakeholder partnerships, fundraising, social media, and policy writing and advocacy, and lobbying, among many others.
- Several institutions in the fields of climate change, peace-building, disaster management and environmental protection will be invited to grace the program as mentors and lecturers, including the Local Government Academy of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN Development Program Philippines, Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Center for Disaster Preparedness, Philippine Climate Change Commission and Office of Civil Defense, among others.
The project will feature successful community-based disaster risk reduction and management initiatives in the Philippines and provide the fellows with an opportunity to engage in such initiatives. Fellows will also have a chance to visit the newly-established command center of the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. - Selected fellows will also undergo an online incubator program with the leadership education specialists of the Honolulu-based East-West Center, which hosts academic fellowships with a focus on global environmental issues.
- At the end of the program, the fellows are required to submit and present innovative community project proposals to a panel of mentors. The fellows will be grouped by country to generate multi-stakeholder community-based initiatives, which will each receive funding to put their ideas into action with mentorship from the organizers and partners.
Eligibilities
The Young Peacebuilders for Climate Action is seeking thirty (30) youth leaders from conflict-affected and/or disaster-prone communities across the Southeast Asia. They will be selected based on their leadership qualities and track record, including volunteer activities, educational background, and community service experiences, among others. We are looking for individuals who will be able to demonstrate their potential to make a difference for and address the challenges confronting their communities. All applicants for the accelerator program must:
- Be between the ages of 18 and 25 at the time of the program;
- Be able to demonstrate their commitment to peace-building, environmental protection, disaster management and/or social entrepreneurship;
- Be currently a full-time undergraduate or graduate student; recent graduate of college, university, or other institutions of higher learning; or young professional who has recently joined the workforce;
- Be a resident of conflict-affected and/or disaster-prone areas in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Application Process
- Fill out Young Peacebuilders for Climate Action’s online application form.
Please note that the applicants may only submit one (1) application. Multiple applications will not be considered. Duplicate submissions may be grounds for disqualification. Please carefully review your application before submitting. - Be a member of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative by signing up on their website.
Application Deadline: May 26, 2017
Application ClosedOfficial linkFor Further Queries
You should be able to find the answer to most of your questions in the application and the FAQs sections. Please read them carefully. If you still have some questions after reviewing these sections please email us at: [email protected]
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