Green Ambassadors Training 2013
Last Updated (Thursday, 31 July 2014 20:14)
APAY 2nd Green Ambassadors Training
The Green Ambassadors Training, second of its kind was organized by the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and took place in Wu KwaiSha Youth Village, Hong Kong during 8 – 14 May 2013. Eleven participants representing YMCA Movements of Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Pakistan, Taiwan and Thailand participated at the Training Program. The APAY Green Team Members facilitated the Training Program.
Rev. Simon Chan, Assistant General Secretary, Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong led the Opening Devotion on the inaugural day. Mr. Yau ChungWan, President of the APAY, Mr. Karl Lau, General Secretary of the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong and Honorary General Secretary of the Council of YMCAs of Hong Kong and Mr. Kohei Yamada, General Secretary, APAY were present at the inaugural session of the Training Program and encouraged the participants to be more involved in green activities in their respective YMCAs.
Mr. Samson So, Founder and Director of Eco Institute, Hong Kong delivered the key note address, elaborating the present state of the ecology, environment and bio-diversity of our planet. The best environmental practices of the YMCAs of our region were presented at the Training Workshop, they were Chiangmai YMCA, Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong and the YMCA of Hong Kong. The participants had the opportunity to have field visits, as an exposure to the Zero Carbon Building, Organic Farm, Plastic Recycling Center in Hong Kong.
Mr. Colin Lambie, APAY Green Team Member from Australia, explained the participants the terminologies of energy units and the consumption behaviors of various power appliances. He also discussed about various energy appliances and their cost benefit. The participants were taught through practical exercises to estimate the carbon emissions of the YMCA through the use of online carbon calculator. The participants also learnt about the energy consumptions of our own YMCAs and the volume of carbon foot prints we were creating and the possible ways to offset the carbon footprints.
During the final sessions the participants were acquainted with the terms of reference of Green Teams, which they required to form in their own YMCAs. They also prepared plan of action, on personnel, societal and YMCAs perspective, which they pledged to fulfill upon return from the training.
The 1st Green Ambassadors Training Program was held in Chiangmai, Thailand, during the month of May 2012. Fifteen participants from various countries of the region of Asia & Pacific participated at the Training Program last year.
At present we have a total of 26 Green Ambassadors in our region who have been trained in the last two years to initiate various green activities in their respective YMCAs.
They first form small Green Teams in their respective YMCAs for a collective action program. Action program includes monitor the carbon emissions of the respective YMCAs through the use of the online carbon calculator as devised in APAY website. The Green Teams motivate the YMCAs to be more environmental friendly in their activities, take effective measures to reduce carbon footprints, initiate renewable energy programs, motivate the people to become more environment friendly by making changes in their behavioral patterns.
APAY has engaged environmental mentors, who are members of the APAY Green Team to guide and assist the Green Ambassadors in delivering various Green Activities in their own countries.
APAY now plans to hold Green Ambassadors Training at National Level in several countries as a follow up program, so that a large number of youths could be involved in this program.
APAY is also thankful to the Council of YMCAs of Hong Kong for financially supporting this program.
DUNCAN CHOWDHURY