Hi there Y4N Community,
Though our events have been winding down, there is still plenty of work happening behind the scenes here at Youth4Nature! We have been busy strategising for the year(s) ahead and, of course, applying for funding to support all our dreams. Our regional teams have been growing so we are busy with onboarding. We are taking space to reflect on and evaluate our projects that are wrapping up and we are looking ahead to the big international decision-making events that are taking place later this year, including UNFCCC COP26, CBD COP15, and the Food Systems Summit! More on all of this, coming soon. For now, our Y4N updates:
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If you’ve been following our journey over this past year, you’ll know that our focus has been very much on growing our team and planning for the future. This is an ongoing process, but we feel like we are at a place to share more with YOU! Head over to our new and improved Y4N website to meet our new team members, to see what our regional teams have been up to, and to learn more about what Youth4Nature is all about in June of 2021.
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Some other activities we have on the go...
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Don’t forget! This month we are searching for youth stories about society, culture and biodiversity! This competition is open until June 30th (extended deadline!) and there are prizes for 6 stories in the following categories:
- Mobility: migration, displacement, and cultural exchanges;
- Language: multilingualism, Indigenous languages, and language diversity;
- Faith: religion, interfaith work & spiritualism;
- Ethnicity & culture: ethnic/cultural diversity, traditions and minority rights;
- Race: racial justice, equal civil rights and anti-racism;
- Sexuality: LGBTQIA+ rights, acceptance and mobilisation.
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PS. Our new story-map is filling up with stories! Check it out here.
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Every month our team highlights top regional news updates for you! Sometimes this means the usual news articles, while other times it includes videos, new research, op-eds, social media posts, and other channels that information is shared and accessed. Dive in!
GLOBAL:
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NORTH AMERICA:
- Y4N’s own Engagement Director, Caroline, spent time at the Fairy Creek Blockade earlier this month. Protesters have been present at the Fairy Creek watershed since August 2020 when an environmentalist using satellite imagery found new logging roads built. For more information, check out this factbox and the environmentalist coordinating the action.
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- Early this month the 2021 First Nations Guardians Gathering took place, hosted by the Indigenous Leadership Initiative in Canada. Watch the opening ceremonies here.
- After 10 years of organizing against the Keystone XL Pipeline, as of 9 June, the project was officially terminated by developers, TC Energy. Here is one of many articles about this exciting news.
- Pattie Gonia, a queer environmentalist, was featured in a Vogue UK article to celebrate World Environment Day on June 5th. She shared 5 ways we can all enjoy nature.
WEST ASIA:
- We’re all about Syria this month (articles in Arabic):
- Big initiatives taken by the Syrian authorities to tackle climate change and food security spark positivity for climate justice in a country still recovering from armed-conflict. The main target of the authorities seems to involve the agricultural sector. This article presents meetings on government scale intentions to combat the effects of climate change on agriculture and this article is a success story of 6,268 families benefiting from the “home gardens” project in rural Syria. Big ups for the Syrian authorities to tackle the massive forest fires that hit the Eastern Mediterranean last month with this initiative.
- Looking for positive news on nature and climate in MENA? Check out this video series!
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LATIN AMERICA + THE CARIBBEAN:
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- What opportunities do you see in drylands landscape restoration? Check out the latest on what went down during GLF Africa: Restoring Africa’s Drylands, including insights about needs, existing capacities and opportunities for restoration here.
EUROPE + CENTRAL ASIA:
En français!
- En 2020, il y a eu une hausse historique des migrations climatiques internes du fait des pressions environnementales sur les populations locales: articles à lire sur France Info et Le Monde
- Durant les 30 dernières années, 30% des populations aviaires ont disparu, principalement à cause des pratiques agricoles: podcast de France Culture à écouter, article du Monde à lire etrapport complet ici.
- Le Sri Lanka vit sa plus grande catastrophe écologique avec destruction de resources cruciales à la survie de la population locale depuis 2 semaines après l’incendie et le naufrage d’un container rempli de produits chimiques toxiques et microbilles plastiques destinées à l’industrie: articles à lire de Ouest France et Le Monde
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PAID OPPORTUNITY: Africa Youth Advisory Board on DRR are hiring 3 consultancy positions in the area of Youth & Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa. Deadline to apply is June 17, 2021. More here.
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PAID OPPORTUNITY: The UBC Climate Hub is hiring a full-time Climate Hub Coordinator. Deadline to apply is June 17, 2021. More information here.
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YOUTH REVIEW: 44 countries are presenting a Voluntary National Review, sign up to review and respond to how your government presents the progress of SDGs in your country. Deadline to join in this review is June 18, 2021, sign up here.
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PAID OPPORTUNITY: People & Planet is looking for volunteers to assist with compiling its 2021 People & Planet University League. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis with a deadline of June 20, 2021. Apply here.
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EVENT: Join Mekateam Bangladesh, Oxfam and Youth4Nature Asia to explore the linkages between river biodiversity, culture and various threats to river-based livelihoods through interactive games at Meghna Knowledge Forum 2021. Happening June 22, 2021. Register here.
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EVENT: Join the IUCN, GENeva Environment Network, and partners at the next Nature-based Solutions dialogue in the run-up to various international negotiations. Happening June 28, 2021 at 15.00 CEST. More here.
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TRAINING OPPORTUNITY: The Switchers Support Programme is looking for 20 Lebanese innovators and green entrepreneurs at ideation or early-stage. More information here. Deadline is June 30, 2021.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Apply to the Nudge Global Challenge 2021, a fully-funded opportunity for young professionals. Deadline is July 1, 2021. Apply here.
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CALL TO JOURNALISTS: The 2021 #Youth4Regions program is for networking with journalists, trainings & workshops, participation in the #EURegionsWeek, visits of media organizations, and more. Apply before July 12, 2021. Link to application.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: The Institute of International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) has just announced its next round of applications for professors and researchers facing threats to their lives or careers. Deadline to apply is July 12, 2021. More information here.
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PAID OPPORTUNITY: NbSI is hiring 2 postdocs to work on the economics of Nature-based Solutions in the Global South. More here and here. Deadline is July 23, 2021.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Call for application to Restoration Stewards program 2022! A year-long program, for five youth-led restoration projects to receive mentorship and training sessions as well as funding support. Apply by July 31, 2021. #GenerationRestoration #ThinkLandscape
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COMPETITION: The ClimateScience Olympiad 2021 is open for entries! ClimateScience is also offering a $10,000 prize pool and finalists are invited to gather in Glasgow, UK during COP26! Deadline is August 1, 2021. Apply here
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CALL FOR WILDLIFE STORYTELLERS: Love Nature, Jackson Wild, and Wildscreen are inviting people from around the world to create and share their short (3-5 minutes) digital-ready films with Love Nature’s global audience. Deadline to submit is August 6, 2021.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: The African Women Development Fund (AWDF) funds local, national, sub-regional organizations in Africa working towards women’s empowerment. The AWDF makes grants in three cycles, March, August and November. Applications can be sent in at any time. More information here.
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CHALLANGE FOR ARTISTS: An ongoing art challenge about science and IPCC work for young artists. Your work could become part of #IPCC outreach material shown around the world or even be selected as a report front cover! More here.
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HIRING RESOURCES: Pattie Gonia, queer environmentalist, has put together a grassroots effort to diversify the outdoor industry and environmental fields, intended for self-identifying LGBTQ+ individuals to post for employers to view. Link for those who want to get hired, link to view digital board.
- INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY (unpaid): United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok Office. More information here!
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TRAINING: Full scholarships for female candidates from the Global South to attend the Digital Academy and Mentorship Program focusing on Planetary Health knowledge and practice. Put on by "Women Leaders for Planetary Health".
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HIRING RESOURCES: For Canadian youth looking for work, check out Work to Grow, by Nature Canada.
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Last month's Letter to the Editor came to us from Wellington in Brazil. They had this to say:
"May I suggest that you could start to debate and discuss about introducing children's education on ecology and nature preservation as compulsory, [...] right away from the basic school. I do believe that's the best way. The earlier we start, the sooner we'll collect "the good fruits".
It's true! Being aware of, informed about, and connected to climate and biodiversity from an early age is important! So important that this call to action is central to many youth demands to leaders and decision-makers around the world. Just one example: Transformative Education is demand #7 on the Youth #ForNature Open Letter and Manifesto!
Do you have thoughts to share? We want to hear them! Share your personal take on anything we have shared this month or let us know what is important to you in the nature-climate world right now! We’ll include it in next month's newsletter. Submit here.
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This month we are leaving you with 3 recommendations from our team:
 A recipe for easy cinnamon rolls from Raysa, our Regional Director for Europe & Central Asia. She says, "it is the perfect comfort food - and it does not need any milk or eggs to prepare, nor complicated ingredients!" Vinamra, our Regional Director for Asia & the Pacific, is hearing about the documentary Breaking Boundaries everywhere he goes. Have you watched it? Don't you just love that moment when a meme represents everything you care about and also all your fears? Well here you go, courtesy of Co-Managing Director, Marina.
We'll see you soon! In the meantime, wishing you days of reflection, resiliency and hope.
In love and solidarity,
The Y4N Team
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