It is not a secret anymore that youth, which comprises over 1.2 billion people from the global population, must be directly engaged in the decision-making processes. At the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth (SDSN Youth), we are committed to amplifying youth voices and empowering the youth through education and resources about sustainable development. Our partners and initiatives reflect this work too.
Most recently, SDSN Youth collaborated with Yunus Thailand, a non-profit Thailand-based organization that drives social and environment-friendly business movement and encourages inclusive economy establishment regionally and in Thailand, for a capacity-building program for young leaders.
Between January 21, 2025, and February 18, 2025, SDSN Youth and Yunus Thailand organized a one-of-a-kind series of workshops focused on equipping attendees with the knowledge, skills, and resources to become effective leaders and advocates for zero waste practices in their communities and beyond. The program was designed for 20 selected Yunus Thailand and SDSN Youth members who wanted to keep improving their advocacy skills.
The 5 workshops covered such topics as global and local waste management practices and challenges, recycling value chain, practical strategies for waste reduction, reuse and recycling promotion (3Rs), effective advocacy and community engagement, media communication and storytelling, and social entrepreneurship principles. Speakers included team members from the SDSN Youth and Yunus Thailand, as well as notable guest speakers who inspired attendees by sharing their expertise, experiences, and actionable insights on respective key topics. For example, by the end of the workshop series, participants will have been equipped with skills to identify and analyze local waste management challenges, propose potential solutions, design and implement effective waste reduction and recycling initiatives, promote sustainable practices within their communities; advocate for zero waste initiatives and build lasting partnerships to support their efforts, craft and deliver impactful stories to support their zero waste projects, utilizing various media platforms to reach and engage their target audiences, and more.
This collaboration aligns with SDSN Youth’s mission of youth empowerment and sustainable development, as we teach young leaders to manage and execute their zero waste projects efficiently, ensuring that they have the skills and knowledge needed to overcome challenges and achieve their objectives in sustainable development. Together with Yunus Thailand, we are confident that we will see the first “fruits” of the capacity-building program within months to come as the youth continue cultivating their impressive projects and initiatives with the support they gained during the workshops.
From SDSN Youth, we want to take a moment to thank the Yunus Thailand team for their incredible support and collaboration in making this initiative a reality.