Asia and the Pacific Youth Symposium 2021

Events

Asia and the Pacific Youth Symposium 2021

12 August 2021 to 27 August 2021

The 2nd Asia and the Pacific Youth Symposium (APYS) is a platform for intergenerational dialogue that convenes governments, young leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss major and emerging issues in the region. It aims to facilitate intergenerational dialogues on Meaningful Youth Engagement (MYE) in different sectors, such as youth economic empowerment (YEE), health and wellness, and climate change, in order to gather insights into what resilience means to young people in Asia and the Pacific and how to unlock youth opportunities in these sectors.

Building on the insights and learning from the 1st Asia and the Pacific Youth Symposium, APYS 2021 featured a virtual series of keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, and consultation space, and a training module for participants to further explore youth resiliency in relation to MYE. It also provided opportunities for networking among ADB staff, government representatives, the private sector, academe, and think-tanks, and civil society and youth organizations.

 

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Asia and the Pacific Youth Symposium (APYS) were to:

  • showcase youth-led initiatives strengthening the resilience of young people and communities against economic shocks, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • gather insights on the meaning of resilience to young people in Asia and the Pacific, and potential opportunities for youth to be involved in COVID-19 recovery phase;
  • build the knowledge and skills of young people and adult partners in applying meaningful youth engagement as a practice in development programs; and
  • collect and analyze knowledge on select MYE topics to inform ADB YfA’s future initiatives and launch an MYE case studies research initiative with partners.

 

 

EVENT ACTIVITIES

  • APYS Event Launch: To celebrate the International Youth Day 2021, APYS will kickstart with a panel discussion on the State of the Region where intergenerational stakeholders provide a landscape of MYE in Asia and the Pacific. The Event Launch will also include an Hour of Code* and an introduction to the MYE Training Course.
  • Knowledge sessions: To showcase the development of youth-led initiatives to thematic areas, APYS will be conducting knowledge sessions to provide a better understanding of how youth are demonstrating resilience against economic shocks, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Through knowledge sessions, participants will have a better understanding of how youth can be meaningfully engaged when it comes to resilience initiatives in youth economic empowerment, health and wellness, and climate change.
  • MYE Training Course: To deepen participants’ understanding of MYE and its application in development practice, APYS will also provide a training course consisting of three online modules that will cover (i) the definition and conceptual framework of meaningful youth engagement; (ii) relevance of MYE to ADB sector programs; and (iii) good practices and lessons learned in practicing MYE from practitioners. The training will culminate with a 1- day closing workshop, which will include learning circles for participants to share reflections and other insights from the training program.
  • Consultation Session: To gather insights on what resilience means to young people in Asia and the Pacific and how stakeholders and youth themselves can unlock opportunities for MYE in COVID-19 recovery, APYS provide a space for intergenerational dialogue through a consultation session.
  • Event Closing: APYS Event Closing will provide a space to showcase outputs and the journey of APYS delegates from the knowledge sessions, Hour of Code, MYE Training Course and Consultation Sessions.

The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science designed to develop solutions through the use of technology, specifically coding.

EVENT AUDIENCE

APYS convened key stakeholders working with young people and have initiatives for young people in the region such as:

  • young people engaged in initiatives and policy-making and who come from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds; and young professionals with expertise on the topic and youth from different program areas related to meaningful youth engagement;
  • government representatives from ministries, departments, and local government units that work or have a stake in integrating youth and are interested to learn about youth insights and views on how to meaningfully engage youth in their field or initiatives;
  • academia and think-tank researchers, policy writers, and thought leaders who are working on studies related to youth engagement, human capital development, resiliency, and/or inclusivity related to young people; and
  • representatives from multilateral organizations, intergovernmental organizations, CSOs, and the private sector with programs that contribute to a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific.
Program and Learning Materials: 
Date Session / Activity Presentation Material Speaker(s)
12 Aug 2021 APYS 2021 Event Launch Livestream over at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/YouthForAsia/videos/
12 Aug 2021 Hour of Code Closed session on Zoom https://adb.eventsair.com/asia-and-the-pacific-youth-symposium-apys-2021/hour-of-code
Date Session / Activity Presentation Material Speaker(s)
16 Aug 2021 Knowledge Session: Climate Change Webinar Video: Climate Change
From Nepal to the Marshall Islands, hundreds of thousands of young volunteers have taken to streets ringing alarm bells around the climate change crisis...
Date Session / Activity Presentation Material Speaker(s)
18 Aug 2021 Knowledge Session: Health and Wellness Webinar Video: Health and Wellness
Health is an area where youth-led activities have the potential to significantly affect outcomes for young people, and in turn, have whole life-cycle ...
Date Session / Activity Presentation Material Speaker(s)
20 Aug 2021 Knowledge Session: Youth Economic Empowerment Webinar Video: Youth Economic Empowerment
This session focuses on the implications of changing jobs and livelihood prospects of young workers and entrepreneurs because of the coronavirus crisis...
Date Session / Activity Presentation Material Speaker(s)
23 Aug 2021 Consultation Session Materials to follow
Date Session / Activity Presentation Material Speaker(s)
27 Aug 2021 APYS Event Closing Livestream over at Facebook

Disclaimer

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