Over 60 enthusiastic participants attended I AM A CLIMATE CITIZEN, a national workshop for young leaders acting on climate change. The closing ceremony was a great success and was held on October 4th, 2013 at the ERC International Institute (88 Huynh Van Banh Str., Ward 15, Phu Nhuan Dist., Ho Chi Minh City).

The participants are all youth, the youngest being born in 1997, from twenty of Vietnam’s cities and provinces. They all differed in race, religion, perspectives, and beliefs, but each of them had two difficult rounds of screening to go through. Some of them are 350.org members, others knew some basic information about climate change, while some were simply ambitious youngers. Regardless, they came together in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) for four days to meet and connect.

Mr. Martijn van de Groep, Director of Water.nl, speaking about climate change (Photo by Duc Anh)

After the press conference hosted by 350.org Vietnam, I AM A CLIMATE CITIZEN was one of the first Vietnam Power Shift events to come forward under the patronization of CHANGE, a local NGO working on climate change and sustainability. It was also the first workshop about climate change that attracted such a varied and large number of participants. After joining our workshop, these leaders had the essential knowledge and skills to develop local climate movements in their hometowns.

Mrs. Hong Hoang, 350.org East Asia Organizer, said, “Our secured budget for the workshop would have been just enough for about 20-25 participants from the same region. We held many meetings with the core team to come to a decision that 60 young leaders from throughout the country will join with an unchanged budget. I believe in the power of people in grassroots movements, and so we need to engage and build capacity for young people from as many communities as possible”.

“In order to make that possible, we mobilized all possible resources: a parish in the city provided their rooms, and built two new toilets and set up Wi-Fi network to host 40 of the participants; milk was donated from a big corporation, and location by ERC International Institute. Our volunteers have learned how to build a community movement relying on the support of the communities, and that’s a key skill they should have to sustain our movement,” she added.

“Que huong Vietnam”, a song performed during the closing ceremony. Everybody sang aloud and provided environmental messages of empowerment. (Photo by Duc Anh)

Workshop guests and speakers generously agreed to cover their own accommodation expenses without complaint. The partner NGOs and organizations including CECEM, ICS, LIN, Flyingbay Art Creation Center, Board of Youth of Vietnam Television, and Water.nl each sent their best speakers and trainers to the workshop. The workshop’s agenda was composed of 11 main training sessions, 6 optional sessions, and many regional sessions, which were all customized to fit with the participants’ capacities and expectations, to include essential topics such as campaign building, project management, power mapping, diversity, communication strategies, creative campaigning, digital campaigning, public speaking, funding, and of course, leadership.

Approximately ten music clubs from ten universities, and some favorite pop stars, joined the Singing for Climate event on the third evening, attracting nearly 500 youths and the media to come and learn about Vietnam Power Shift.

The workshop forged a strong alliance among the “Climate Citizens.” They may not be professionals but we’re certain that their passion will make them great leaders, daring to think and act for a common belief. After coming back to their homes, they have been keeping in close touch, and are planning their provincial actions for the coming National Day of Actions for Energy and Climate on 10 November.