On 4–6 August 2025, the AEON Environmental Foundation and UNU-IAS held the second international training session as part of the Global Youth MIDORI platform (GYM), a capacity development programme for youth.
Engaging 15 undergraduate students from eight countries, the session featured lectures by UNU-IAS experts and NGO representatives on topics such as climate change, biodiversity and role of youth in international negotiation processes. Group discussions facilitated the exchange of ideas by youth from diverse backgrounds. Two alumni of the 2024 session joined in a supportive role as part of follow-up activities offered by GYM.
A speech contest was held on the final day, resulting in five winners:
- Best Performance Award: Haruna Sakai (The University of Osaka)
- Runner-up: Vennessa Kuek Weng Yan (University of Malaya)
- Third Place: Jungen Ono (Keio University), Saki Iwamoto (Sophia University) and Amira Puji Hastuti (University of Indonesia)
The top two students, Ms. Sakai and Ms. Kuek, will participate in the upcoming 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP30)* in Belém, Brazil, as part of the UNU delegation.
In addition to the training session, GYM offers various learning, capacity building and networking opportunities for youth. Please see here for more information about the Global Youth MIDORI platform (GYM).
* Please note that the conference is subject to change in case of unforeseen circumstances.
