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2022 YSEALI Regional Workshop: Marine Warriors

COUNTRIES: Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam
DURATION: 09/01/2021 - 05/31/2023
FUNDER: U.S. Department of State
CONTACT: [email protected]

Program Description

The 2022 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Regional Workshop: Marine Warriors brings together participants from ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste to examine recent environmental changes and consequences in the Central Coastal regions of Vietnam.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by World Learning, this workshop aims to promote an understanding of environmental degradation caused by plastics pollution, acidification, ocean warming, and fisheries management as case studies applicable to the ASEAN region through hands-on activities including interactive skill-building sessions, expert presentations, site visits, and a game jam. These activities will encourage participants to collaborate with one another to explore the potential short- and long-term solutions and implementation strategies to address changes in the environment causing serious and observable consequences in Vietnam’s coastal regions and other marine/freshwater environments in ASEAN.

Countries: Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam

Program Goals

  • Empower young leaders in the ASEAN region and Timor-Leste to address the critical issue of environmental ocean pollution by developing leadership and creative problem-solving skills.
  • Promote continued collaboration and long-term conversations on water quality and coastal pollution in Vietnam and across the ASEAN region, strengthening the YSEALI network.
  • Increase social and professional skills such as leadership, networking, and teamwork through workshop activities.
  • Empower participants to take ownership of the program deliverables through participant-led program elements, including creating their own pilot video game and practice their public speaking and presentation skills.

Event Overview

The 2022 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Regional Workshop: Marine Warriors brings together 100 participants from ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste to Nha Trang, Vietnam from December 1-6, 2022. This hand-on workshop will involve participants engaging in interactive skill-building training sessions, expert presentations and case studies, a site visit to learn about efforts to protect Vietnam’s fragile coastal environments and environmental issues firsthand, and a game jam. The game jam is an exciting hackathon-style component, joining together environmentalists and game developers across the ASEAN region and Timor-Leste to innovate and develop solutions for marine environmental degradation via game production. 

Participant Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be between the ages of 18 and 25 at the time of application;
  • Be a citizen and a resident of one of the following countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, or Vietnam;
  • Be a YSEALI member. You may either be an existing YSEALI member, or you can become a member at https://asean.usmission.gov/yseali/;
  • Be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English;
  • Demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in your university, place of work, and/or community;
  • Demonstrate interest, knowledge, or professional experience in environmental sustainability and sustainable development;
  • Be willing to actively participate in an intensive program in Vietnam and follow-on projects in your home-country; and
  • Have a commitment to apply leadership skills and know-how to benefit your community, country, or the ASEAN region.

The workshop will include a component of gaming for social good. While game development skills are not needed for selection, we count on your commitment to participate in the gamification-related segments of our workshop.

Participant Commitment

Prior to the program, participants will be asked to produce a story, using multimedia or digital platforms, about environmental coastal degradation (preferred), or any environmental or civic issues relevant to their home countries. Participants will attend the Workshop and present their stories. Additionally, participants will join several virtual training sessions prior to the program in December and are expected to join post-program engagement activities including actively supporting influencer hubs in their home countries focusing on using gaming in support of environmental protection. 

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