High school students from ASEAN and Italy discuss climate and digitalization

More than 30 high school students from the ASEAN Member States and Italy met in Jakarta for three days to foster stronger relations between ASEAN countries and Italy. Student delegates, accompanied by their teachers, held fruitful discussions on food security and climate change, and digitalization and youth empowerment.

Following the success of the inaugural ASEAN-Italy Youth Conference in 2021, Global Action has teamed up with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the ASEAN Secretariat and AYO to host the 2nd ASEAN-Italy Youth Conference. from 29 to 31 May at the ASEAN Secretariat.

The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished speakers including ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Ekkaphab Phanthavong, ASEAN Youth Organization (AYO) founder Senjaya Mulia and the Global Action President Carlotta Venza. On behalf of the Italian Ambassador to ASEAN, the First Secretary of the Italian Embassy in Indonesia, Ruben Caruccio, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the conference. Also in attendance were the Permanent Representatives of ASEAN and the Embassies of ASEAN Member States in Rome, who participated both in person and virtually.

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In his speech, Phanthavong highlighted the great potential of ASEAN-Italy connections for youth in terms of education, cultural interaction and economic advancement. He stressed that diversity and intergenerational collaboration can be valuable assets for associations that promote the sharing of valuable perspectives and successful approaches among individuals of various ages and socioeconomic statuses.

The conference concluded with inspiring closing presentations from the young delegates, who offered new ideas for the future of the ASEAN-Italy collaboration. With their valuable input, youth from ASEAN and Italy can help pave the way for innovative policies addressing food security, climate change, digitization and youth empowerment.

diversity and intergenerational collaboration can be valuable assets for associations that promote exchange

To prepare for their participation in the 2nd ASEAN-Italy Youth Conference, the 30 student delegates attended three virtual training sessions given by experts from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the ASEAN Secretariat, the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO) and AYO.