Launch of the Tunza-Pacific Youth Environment Network (Tunza-PYEN)

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UNEP

2005-10-20 14:29

Seoul--(뉴스와이어)--The United Nations Environment Programme is pleased to announce the launch and establishment of the Tunza - Pacific Youth Environment Network (Tunza-PYEN). As part of its launch, Tunza-PYEN will have an inaugural conference from 23 to 27 October 2005 in Sydney, Australia hosted by University of New South Wales (UNSW). This Conference will bring together youth delegates from the Pacific to formalize PYEN and will offer capacity-building workshops and training on networking among the members.

The Conference is part of the United Nations Environment Programme's TUNZA programme for children and youth. 'Tunza' means to treat with care and affection in Kiswahili and it is a wide-ranging programme to involve children and young people in environmental issues.

The participants of the Conference, young people aged 15 to 24,come from various countries of the South Pacific sub-region. They were selected on basis of their essays on their vision and long-term goals for PYEN and the difference PYEN can make in their individual lives. The programme of the Conference includes public lectures on key environmental issues; workshops and training sessions to aid in the development of regional action plans and sustainable development indicators; and group discussions.

The UNEP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Mr. Surendra Shrestha, who will be a chief guest at the Opening Ceremony of the Conference, has said that young people are an important force for channeling change in society and their involvement in environmental and sustainable development issues is necessary for ensuring a better future.

UNEP has already launched similar youth environmental networks in other sub-regions of Asia and the Pacific, specifically South Asia and North East Asia. Both the networks have successfully raised youth awareness and increased youth involvement in environmental projects and activities. The Tunza-South Asia Youth Environment Network (Tunza-SAYEN) was one of the partners with UNEP for the recently held Tunza International Youth Conference 2005 in India.

The Conference is organized by UNEP and the University of New South Wales, Sydney, and sponsored by Bayer AG. It is supported by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, University of South Pacific, Randwick City Council, UNSW's Kensington Group, UNSW's Ecoliving Centre.

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