The second RCE Youth Challenge is now open for expressions of interest for youth-based projects focusing on SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. All youth are welcome to get involved from any region.

The RCE Youth SDG Challenge 2019 will commence in February 2019. With support from their RCE, participants are invited to create their own program or project that will make a difference for themselves, their community and the planet around the SDGs and ESD. Youth can work alone, in a team, or with a neighbouring RCE on a project that must involve as many youth as possible. Projects can include activities and initiatives such as documentaries, youth camps, school expos, writing competitions, art installations, leadership summits, and more. At the conclusion of the project a 1-day Asia-Pacific Virtual Youth Conference will be held online in September/October 2019 where youth can celebrate and present to a global audience. Furthermore, these will be included in an e-publication to share and inspire other youth from around the world to engage with the SDGs in their communities.

Youth wishing to participate must submit a short project plan by 31 January, 2019, be aged 35 years and younger, and have basic English skills (written and verbal). ***UPDATE: Late project submissions are still being accepted up until 28 February, 2019 for interested participants. Read more here.***

This initiative is led by the Asia-Pacific Youth Regional Coordinators, Brittany Hardiman (RCE Greater Western Sydney, Australia) and Emmy Yuniarti Rusadi (RCE Yogyakarta, Indonesia). Should you have any questions or would like an EOI form, please feel free to contact them directly:

Brittany Hardiman - b.hardiman@westernsydney.edu.au
Emmy Yuniarti Rusadi: emmy.yuniarti.rusadi@gmail.com

The first Asia-Pacific Youth SDG Challenge commenced in February 2018 and focused on SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 14: Life Below Water, using a global peer-peer learning model which was youth-focused and driven from a grass-roots level. The challenge concluded with a Virtual Youth Summit providing the opportunity to share stories and projects online with a global audience celebrating their achievements. In total, the SDG Challenge involved 23 projects and engaged directly with 8,800 youth across Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Colombia and Australia. The Challenge projects varied from student documentaries on climate change, bottle top lid art installations, beach clean ups, conservation camps, youth summits and school-based workshops. This initiative was recognised by the Secretariat of the Global RCE Network and awarded an ‘Outstanding Flagship Project’ at the 11th Global RCE Conference in Cebu, Philippines in December 2018.