Asian Youth Lead Climate Action at Vietnam Camp
Thai youth joined a regional climate‑focused camp in Da Nang, Vietnam, organized by World Vision East Asia, alongside peers from six other Asian countries. The Young Minds Camp 2026 emphasized child‑led research, solution design and advocacy on climate change impacts. Participants said the experience boosted their analytical skills, teamwork and confidence to influence policy and community action.
On the occasion of National Youth Day on September 20, the World Vision Foundation of Thailand is advancing efforts to promote and create space for Thai children and youth to creatively demonstrate their potential through life‑skills development, policy advocacy, and raising awareness of global crises.
One key activity under this mission is supporting Thai youth to participate in “Young Minds Camp 2026: Child‑led Actions, Mobilization and Partnership” held recently in Da Nang, Vietnam, organized by World Vision East Asia. The regional learning forum brought together youth representatives from Mongolia, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Laos and Vietnam.
The camp focuses on driving the climate change agenda and its impacts on children and communities through a process where children and youth act as leaders—from research and knowledge sharing to designing solutions and building cooperative networks—to convey youth voices and recommendations to policymakers.
Participation in the camp helps strengthen analytical thinking, teamwork, and awareness of social and environmental issues, while giving youth the chance to discover their potential and step forward as a new generation of leaders who dare to think, act and create positive change in their communities.
Noteth Teerapong, a Thai youth representative of World Vision, said, “I believe youth can be a voice that reflects problems and raises awareness in society. Even though we are young now, as we grow up we will have a greater role in bringing about change, because youth are the foundation of the nation.”
Pat Nichakorn added, “I want to take part in designing policies or approaches to deal with disasters. Although I am still a youth, I believe children and youth can make their voices heard, share their opinions and present our experiences to adults or those concerned.”
This initiative is one of many activities aligned with the foundation’s strategy to foster youth potential in education and life skills, as well as to protect children’s rights, grounded in the belief that youth are not merely recipients of aid but partners in creating change.
The foundation aims to reduce inequality and expand opportunities for youth, especially in vulnerable areas, by enabling access to learning processes under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and involving them in decisions that affect their lives and futures, so they can grow into capable citizens who contribute to sustainable social development.
