Wherever I am, the world comes after me. It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it. Now I understand why the old poets of China went so far and high into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist. "The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver
Youth-In-Charge 2025: Environmental Action of Youth as Champions of Sustainability | A Forum and Competition
Youth-In-Charge 2025: Environmental Action of Youth as Champions of Sustainability | A Forum and Competition
Details
As part of the 2025 UP Diliman Arts and Culture Festival, the UP Asian Center and UP CIFAL Philippines is conducting the 2025 forum and competition, Youth-In-Charge: Environmental Action of the Youth as Champions of Sustainability on 14 March 2025, 12 PM, PST (GMT+8), at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, UP Diliman, Quezon City. This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Online pre-registration is required due to limited seating.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
The UP Asian Center and UP CIFAL Philippines believe that the youth play a crucial role in enhancing community resilience by working closely with local communities to address their unique challenges. In line with its commitment to promote initiatives to understand the Philippines in its broader Asian context, the Asian Center organizes a forum and a competition showcasing projects of youth organizations that highlight best practices that can be adopted by other organizations in the Philippines. This initiative aims to recognize the contributions of local youth organizations and communities and foster a dialogue on enhancing community resilience.
Objectives:
1. To raise awareness on the importance of creating inclusive, safe, and resilient communities; 2. To highlight the role of the youth in developing innovative solutions that address specific local issues; and 3. To advocate for the adoption of sustainable practices in local communities.
SPECIAL MESSAGES
Hon. Dr. RENATO SOLIDUM, Jr. Secretary, Philippine Department of Science and Technology
Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr. is the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the Philippines. He has worked with DOST for the past thirty-eight (38) years and rose from the ranks. He started his professional career at the DOST – Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) in 1984 after graduating with a BS in Geology degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in the same year. He served at PHIVOLCS in varying capacities, starting as Science Research Specialist I and became its Director in 2003. He pursued his graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, USA, earning a MS degree in Geological Sciences at the University of Illinois, Chicago, USA and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego (UCSD), obtaining a PhD degree in Earth Sciences.
YUJEONG KIM Senior Programme Management Officer, United Nations Environment Programme - Asia Pacific Office
Ms. Yujeong Kim is the Senior Programme Management Officer for the United Nations Environment Programme’s Asia Pacific Office based in Bangkok. Her current work focuses on enhancing environmental data, analytics and scientific assessment and strengthening science-policy interface for evidence-based decision making in the region. Before joining UNEP, she worked for the Office for Sustainable Development of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, where she led capacity building and policy advisory activities aimed at accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for Member States. Her dedication to sustainable development extends to her previous roles in the Korean Government, where she led policy design and implementation on crucial environmental issues, including air quality, chemicals, water, climate change, and green growth. Ms. Kim holds a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science in Earth System Sciences from Seoul National University.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
RANZE AARON CALDERON Executive Director, 2030 Youth Force in the Philippines Inc.
Ranze is a dynamic youth leader, sustainability advocate, and communications expert with a decade of experience in creative industries and civic engagement. As the Executive Director of 2030 Youth Force in the Philippines Inc., Ranze spearheads initiatives that empower young people to drive systemic change through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With a passion for good governance, innovation, and environmental advocacy, they have delivered impactful talks at national and international platforms, including the Department of Education’s Learners' Convergence, the Freedom of Information Summit, and youth-focused SDG conferences. Their work has earned them recognition, such as the Youth Integrity Award and the Exemplary Leadership honor from the 2030 Youth Force.
PATRICK RYAN BELLO Climate Reality Leader
Rain is a climate activist and a Climate Reality Leader from Quezon City. He graduated from the University of the Philippines Manila with a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy. He first got involved in the climate movement with Youth Strike 4 Climate Philippines in May 2019 where he helped organize climate strikes across the country. Since then, he has spread awareness on the deep links between health and climate and the importance of civic engagement. He was also one of 14 international youth members under the C40 Cities Global Youth and Mayors Forum, a platform where youth shared their experiences and climate demands with heads of local governments, including Quezon City, increasing youth engagement. He believes that there should be climate justice for marginalized communities who are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. He also believes that climate gatherings, especially those between leaders and constituents, may be helpful in addressing social problems at their roots, in ways that are holistic, and effective to ensure evidence-based systems change.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
This competition is organized by the UP Asian Center in partnership with UP CIFAL Philippines with the support of the UP Diliman - Office of Initiatives for Culture and the Arts (OICA). Youth In-Charge 2025 is part of the UP Diliman Arts and Culture Festival 2025.
For more details, you may reach us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 8891-8500 loc. 3586.
The Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The UP Asian Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. It also offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. As an area studies institution, the Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website.
