Green Ambassadors Training 2022

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Last Updated (Wednesday, 29 June 2022 18:19)

‘Transforming our economies and societies to restore our ‘only one earth’.
Green Ambassadors Training 2022

Around sixty YMCA staff, volunteers, and youth from the YMCAs of India, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong participated the Green Ambassadors Training held last 14-17 June 2022. Partners and networks from schools related to YMCA work on climate change also joined the training that was conducted both in-person online. The Green Ambassador’s Training this June aligns with the World Environment Day’s theme, “Only One Earth”. Celebrated annually on June 5, the WED is the United Nations’ platform to encourage awareness and action for the protection of the environment. The theme highlights that the Earth is in “code red” due to climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. It also states that billions of people are short of income, food, shelter, health care and education. Energy and food crises on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic and a spike in conflicts around the world are further causes for concern. Given these realities, individuals, organizations businesses and governments are urged to transform our economies and societies to make them inclusive, fair and more connected with nature.


The training included panel presentations about the theme, ‘Transforming our economies and societies to restore our ‘only one earth’ by Atty. Angela Consuelo Ibay, Head of the Climate and Energy Programme, World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines and National Director, Earth Hour Philippines; and about the outcome of COP26 and its relevance to the work of YMCA was by Beng Seng Chan, GATN Coordinator, APAY. It also incorporated case studies on carbon audit, education and advocacy as tools to combat climate change. The following case studies were presented:

  •  Greener Y Manila Project; Ivory Manio, YMCA of Manila, Philippines
  •  Solar Power Installation; Magda Gana, YMCA of Makati, Philippines
  •  Environmental Conservation & Green Activities towards Low carbon society’; Narupacha Muang-in, Sao Hin YMCA
  •  Environmental Conservation Education for Community’; Saw Tun Lu,
  •  Myanmar YMCA
  •  Awareness, Advocacy and Action, ‘I am for Zero Waste’; Maria Cristina Miranda, APAY Executive Secretary


In preparation for the participants discussion and planning session, Maria Cristina Miranda shared about the APAY Road Map to combat climate change. It was followed by Colin Lambie, APAY and YMI Green Team member who also presented practical ways on achieving a zero net carbon YMCAs. Through these inputs, the training also facilitated small group discussion and sharing of experiences on local/national observed effects/impacts climate change. The proposed solutions and scaling up on ways to achieve zero net carbon was the highlight of the training. The proposed projects were presented by each team during the last day of the training. As a conclusion, the participants simultaneously shared their ‘zero waste’ act to their FB stories. The participants were welcomed by Nam Boo Won, APAY General Secretary and Patcharin Sugunnasil, Board of Director, YMCA of Chiangmai. The training was moderated by the APAY Green Team.


By: Maria Cristina Miranda, APAY Executive Secretary