AJYELN Fellows Undergo Environmental Leadership and Project Management Training Program in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 11 to 13 August 2025 

Key Takeaways 

• Project Management as a Core Skill: Fellows learned to apply structured tools such as SMART goals, stakeholder mapping, risk analysis, and contingency planning. These frameworks gave them the confidence to plan projects systematically, allocate resources effectively, and evaluate outcomes with greater precision.  

• Creative Advocacy Matters: Through workshops on storytelling and social media campaigning, fellows realized how creative, audience-focused communication can raise awareness and amplify grassroots initiatives. They also saw how effective campaigns combine both emotional storytelling and clear, evidence-based messaging.  

• Policy and Governance Understanding: Through workshops, many came to recognize that engaging with policymaking processes—and even advocating for youth observer roles—could significantly strengthen their projects’ long-term impact. Dialogues with ASEAN institutions and Japanese representatives showed them the importance of aligning youth initiatives with regional and national policy frameworks.  

• Practical Inspiration from Field Visits: The field visit to the Kertabumi Recycling Center provided powerful, practical inspiration. Fellows witnessed how waste can be transformed into products such as souvenirs, furniture, construction materials, and even energy. This exposure gave them new insights into recycling systems, encouraging them to design realistic activities like proper waste separation campaigns and innovative reuse of materials to improve sustainability. 

• Soft Skills Development: Throughout the sessions, fellows strengthened their communication, teamwork, adaptability, leadership, and intercultural collaboration. These skills were highlighted as essential for engaging stakeholders, building partnerships, and fostering inclusivity in environmental projects. 

• Cross-Cultural Exchange and Networking: By working with peers from across ASEAN and Japan, fellows expanded their perspectives and developed meaningful relationships that they can draw upon in future collaborations. Many noted that collaboration and cultural sensitivity would be critical in future regional initiatives. 

Main Highlights 

What have we learned? 

Day 1 – Workshops: Leadership, Advocacy & Policy 

1. Project Management 101 

Speaker: Manik Marganamahendra (Executive Director of Indonesian Youth Council for Tactical Changes, IYCTC) 

• Introduced practical tools for defining goals using the SMART framework. 
• Emphasized problem identification, stakeholder mapping, risk analysis, and advocacy timeline planning 
• Fellows practiced creating realistic implementation strategies and aligning with policy momentum. 

Mr. Manik was checking and advising the Project Design Canvas prepared by Team Vietnam. 

2. Creative Campaign 101 

Speaker: Enta Fadila Tapisa (Founder of Sisters Achieve, Education Content Creator) 

• Focused on storytelling as a powerful medium for online advocacy. 
• Taught content formats such as carousels, “Add Yours” stickers, and short-form videos. 
• Highlighted metrics-driven campaign design and the use of personal transformation stories to spark change 

3. Policymaking 101 

Speaker: Hino Samuel Jose (Thematic Focal Point of Green Economy and Resources, UNEP Children and Youth Major Group) 

• Explored the policy cycle with real-world examples like Indonesia’s downstreaming case. 
• Discussed how youth can transition from observers to influencers through strategic foresight and policy advocacy 
• Emphasized the importance of intergenerational equity, life-cycle approaches, and formal youth observer roles. 

Day 2 – Institutional Engagement & Dialogue 

1. Embassy of Japan Visit 

• Mr. Kawamoto Yosuke introduced current Japan-ASEAN environmental cooperation projects, such as the ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Action Agenda on Plastic Pollution 
• Ambassador Kiya Masahiko engaged in direct Q&A with fellows and inspired fellows to be resourceful and proactive in contributing to the ASEAN community. Key questions included: 
  • Win (Myanmar): How can youth be involved in ongoing Japan-ASEAN environmental projects? 
  • Din (Brunei): What steps can ASEAN youth take to gain formal observer roles in regional working groups? 
  • Jick (Philippines): How can existing ASEAN-Japan policies be localized for grassroots education? 

2. Sharing by ERIA  

• ERIA’s team presented innovations in 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and circular economy approaches 
• Fellows explored choice editing, greenwashing prevention, and case studies such as Dell and Herman Miller’s closed-loop designs. They were particularly interested  
• ERIA reinforced how systemic barriers (e.g., cultural norms, weak infrastructure) must be addressed collaboratively. 

3. ASEAN Secretariat Visit  

• Dialogue with Dr. Vong Sok, Head of Environment Division, Assistant Director of Sustainable Development. 

4. Sharing by ASEAN Foundation 

• Ms. Marsha Phoebe, Business Development Associate, and Ms. Tirza Listiarani, Senior Project Officer for the eMpowering Youth Across ASEAN Programme, introduced ASEAN Foundation as an institution with the vision to build a cohesive, prosperous, and inclusive ASEAN Community. Its mission is to achieve this through people-to-people interaction, collaboration with stakeholders, and initiatives that uphold unity, equity, and peace. 
• They also shared about their flagship programs that spread across multiple thematic pillars: Education, Arts & Culture, Community Building, Media, Environment, and Business Community Engagement. Examples are AI Ready ASEAN and AI Teach for ASEAN, ASEAN Data Science Explorers (DSE), and eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN (eYAA). 

Day 3 – Field Exposure & Best Practices 

1. Kertabumi Recycling Center Visit 
   Speaker: Ikbal Alexander 

• Fellows learned from a real-world circular economy model that recycles plastic into souvenirs, furniture, construction materials, and energy 
• Kertabumi demonstrated youth-led, community-centered waste banks in 47 cities and regencies. 
• The project emphasized carbon removal accounting and social entrepreneurship as pathways to scale. 

2. Sharing Session on Plastic-free Initiatives with Environmental Organizations 

• Fellows were exposed to global and local perspectives, learned practical insights they could apply to strengthen their own initiatives and inspired from the sharing of environmentalists’ collective actions. 

Fellows’ Strengthened Leadership and Interpersonal Skills 

• Fellows improved communication, teamwork, and adaptability through interactive workshops and cross-cultural collaboration. 
• Training enhanced critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity in tackling environmental challenges. 
• Participants gained confidence, networking and negotiation skills, and the ability to lead and engage communities effectively. 

How can we apply the learning in our projects? 

Cambodia Fellows 

“I can apply the learning from the training directly to our projects. From the workshops, I gained skills in project management, creative campaign design, and policymaking, which will help me plan and implement our initiatives more effectively. For example, the Creative Campaign 101 workshop taught me how to design messages that reach audiences in a respectful and impactful way. The visit to Kertabumi gave me insights on turning waste into useful products, which I can connect to our recycling project. These lessons will help ensure our initiatives bring real impact to the community.” –Somnang Chhum (Cambodia) 

“All workshops played a huge role in how I will implement my project. Although I studied project management at university, I learned new things from this training. For policymaking, I still need a lot of improvement because I didn’t understand most of the session. But the last session was really fun, especially about convincing stakeholders.” –Sodalis Sophea (Cambodia) 

“Outreach to more sponsors and building more connections for my project.” –Samrithpanha Vann (Cambodia) 

Japan Fellows 

“Workshop #1 helped make our project idea more solid. Before, it was vague, but now I understand project-making better, including stakeholders, risk mitigation, and management. From Workshop #2, I learned how to use social media to reach wider audiences. Even though we don’t plan to change policy yet, I now see how important it is and want to consider it in the future.” –Hazuki Moriyama (Japan) 

“From the social media sessions, I learned how to share project ideas and encourage more people to join our beach clean-ups and workshops. At the Kertabumi Recycling Center, I also learned how to make accessories from plastic waste, which I can apply in our project to create new products from marine plastics.” –Noa Tatsuno (Japan) 

Lao PDR Fellows 

“I can use what I learned in many ways. The communication and teamwork skills will help me plan and collaborate better. I can now share ideas confidently and lead discussions. The problem-solving and critical thinking sessions taught me to look at issues from multiple perspectives and create workable solutions. I am also inspired by other young leaders and want to raise awareness about plastic waste while engaging more people in solutions.” –Xaiyadeth Ounniyom (Lao PDR) 

“I can apply what I learned directly to my SalaSara Project, which turns temples into green centers. The training on plastic waste and recycling will help me introduce better waste separation methods and raise awareness in the community about sustainability.” –Padaphone ATVALY (Lao PDR) 

“The learning can be applied in many ways. I will use structured planning and creative communication in every stage of my project. I also learned about recycling processes and how to design recycled products to attract buyers. This knowledge will help me encourage people to appreciate recycled products and make our initiatives more sustainable.” –Prasone Khaosaath (Lao PDR) 

Malaysia Fellow 

“By planning and implementing the initiatives we learned, modifying them, and carrying them out in our local community.” –Samuel Ling (Malaysia) 

Myanmar Fellows 

“I think project management skills can be well applied in our projects. I was able to learn the formal and well-structured steps in managing projects. Without the proper lectures from the mentor during the workshop, I would never have known categories such as risk management and stakeholder analysis. With this knowledge, our project will be more precise, and we can do outcome analysis more easily. From the social media management mentoring session, I also hope to create very engaging content and campaigns to attract more viewers and spread awareness more widely.” – Win Pyae Pyae Aung (Myanmar)  

“I can really use what I learned, especially after visiting the recycling center. Seeing how waste is sorted, cleaned, and turned into useful materials helped me understand recycling in a more practical way. It made me realize that recycling is not just about throwing trash into bins but about the whole process and effort behind it. In future projects, I can design more realistic activities, like encouraging people to separate waste properly or organizing awareness campaigns to show the actual benefits of recycling. The visit also inspired me to think more creatively about reusing materials, which can reduce costs and make projects more sustainable.”—Myat Noe Khin Khin (Myanmar) 

“I will apply the learning by using the project management skills I gained, from identifying problems to implementing solutions. Understanding how to systematically break down a problem and plan step by step will help me design more structured projects. At the Kertabumi Recycling Center, I saw how waste could be transformed into products like bags, combs, baskets, and keychains. This inspired me to think more creatively about sustainable solutions and how small initiatives can create positive impact. By applying these insights, I can make projects both practical and innovative.” –Khaing Su Myat Thin (Myanmar) 

Philippines Fellows 

“The soft skills I developed—particularly in communication, networking, and intercultural collaboration—are directly applicable to my mentorship and pitching program. With improved communication, I can present ideas more clearly, listen actively, and manage smoother discussions. Interacting with fellows from ASEAN and Japan made me more culturally sensitive and adaptable. The expanded network also allows me to reach out for insights, partnerships, or support. I plan to invite new friends as inspirational speakers for our mentorships. These experiences make me more confident in leading cross-cultural projects.” –Jick L. Acupan (Philippines) 

“I can apply the training by integrating communication, collaboration, and critical thinking into my projects. Active listening and clear communication will help keep the team aligned. Problem-solving strategies will allow me to address challenges systematically. Teamwork reminded me of the importance of inclusivity, where every member feels valued. These lessons will help me lead more effective and innovative projects.” –Prince Nico U. Geolaga (Philippines) 

Vietnam Fellows 

“I can apply the learning from the training directly to my current and future projects, especially in planning, teamwork, and stakeholder engagement. The project management tools and frameworks I learned will help me map out clear steps, identify necessary partnerships, and allocate resources more effectively. This allows me to anticipate challenges and develop contingency plans, ensuring smoother implementation.” –Lê Đoàn Ngọc Hân (Vietnam) 

“I can directly apply the knowledge to my project on reducing single-use plastics. The policy sessions showed me how local regulations can shape behavior, so I will align activities with municipal policies. The recycling initiatives inspired me to work with waste collectors and schools to promote the 3Rs. I also want to use interactive workshops and creative activities, like art from recycled plastics, to connect environmental action with daily life.” – Lê Đỗ Thanh Tú (Vietnam)