NEA hosted the ASEAN Plus Three Youth Environment Forum (AYEF) in Singapore for the first time from 8 to 10 April 2016, in conjunction with Youth for the Environment Day (YED). The AYEF brought together over 150 youths from ASEAN countries and China to help shape tomorrow’s environmentally sustainable cities. The event was supported by various youth volunteers, including a Youth Planning Team and students from Commonwealth Secondary School and ITE College East, as well as community partners South West Community Development Council and Yuhua Grassroots Organisations.
The theme for AYEF 2016, “Imagine. Create. Change”, recognises that youths play a pivotal role in shaping ASEAN regional co-operation in the years ahead, and aims to develop future leaders who will champion environmental ownership and care for the environment. The youth delegates, aged between 15 and 25 years old, participated in training workshops, an experiential learning trail, field trips, a dialogue with Minister Mr Masagos Zulkifli and keynote presentations on waste minimisation initiatives from three speakers representing the youth, corporate and community sectors. These activities equipped the youth delegates with the tools to develop meaningful projects to tackle environmental issues, which they can then carry out in their home countries, schools, or communities.
Social media updates throughout the three days were posted on @be_ecowithme.