Over the next 18 months, the APYN Co-Facilitation Team will facilitating and support Youth Ambassadors from all over Asia Pacific to develop, implement, and evaluate human rights projects to create change, as well as lead APYN in human rights campaigning from a strategic level.

Here are short profiles of each Co-Facilitator, feel free to start conversations with them by leaving a comment!

(Do you feel inspired to take action for human rights? Check out: http://bit.ly/LrfeIF)

Yu-Ting Chang
Hello! This is Yu-Ting Chang from Taiwan. I am now in my senior year for bachelor’s degree, majoring communication and technology. I have been involved with APYN since 2010, when I was one of the volunteers in the ambassador’s peer-supporting group. In 2011, I personally became one of the ambassadors. I will be the co-facilitator for online-facilitation stream, and I’m really excited about working with you all!!

Suman
Hi Everyone!! This is Suman from Nepal. I’ll be involved as Co-facilitator for this phase of Youth Ambassador Program. Previously I was involved with APYN as Youth Ambassador in 2009 and with Amnesty International as volunteer since 2008.

My academic background is Environmental Engineering and I’m working as Project Coordinator in a Water-sanitation related project. So, do remind me if you have any environmental issues/ problems

This is an exciting moment and I’m sure I will enjoy working in team with you all. CHEERS !!

Selina Cheng
Hello ambassadors! I’m Selina Cheng from Hong Kong, your regional campaign stream co-facilitator. Welcome to APYN!! I’m currently studying a degree on Philosophy and Sociology in Paris, and in the past I have worked on the Demand Dignity campaign as local community ambassador about 2 years ago. I look forward very much to meeting and working with y’all in the coming months on all the interesting issues!

Sarah Cottee
Hi! I’m Sarah, and I’ll be one of the co-facilitators. I’m from England but at the moment I’m living in Hong Kong, working as an Editor. I’ve been involved with APYN since September 2011 and I’m really looking forward to getting to know you all, and to start working with you on some super exciting projects!

What’s new? Send a letter to the Vietnam authorities and call for the immediate release of “Peasant’s Pipe”!

© Private

In prison since 2008 for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression, now Nguyen Hoang Hai could be sentenced an additional 3 to 20 years in prison!

Known as Dieu Cay (which means “the peasant’s pipe”), Nguyen Hoang Hai has written articles that are critical of China’s foreign policy and participated in peaceful protests, in addition to blogging about corruption and human rights in Vietnam.

From now until 24 May 2012, we are asking YOU(th) to send a letter to the Vietnam authorities to drop all charges against Nguyen Hoang Hai and immediately and unconditionally release him.

If you have some free time, you can also organize to collect signatures in your local community (a good opportunity for newcomers to gain campaigning and mobilizing skills)!

View NOW: http://bit.ly/IqP0Sm

Do more! Send a letter and tweet for Yong Vui Kong!

Yong Vui Kong’s last hope is clemency from the President of Singapore, who can grant this only on the advice from the Cabinet. Clemency for a death sentence in Singapore has only been granted six times since independence in 1965. ©CNB

On April 4, Yong Vui Kong’s third appeal against his death sentence was rejected and his last hope is clemency from the President of Singapore, who can grant this only on the advice from the Cabinet.

We still need more letters from young people in Asia Pacific to ask the Singapore authorities to stop his execution! We only have until 17 May 2012 – please add your name to the APYN letter or organize an activity to collect signatures!

Add NOW: http://bit.ly/HreTD3

Known as Dieu Cay (which means "the peasant's pipe"), Nguyen Hoang Hai has written articles that are critical of China's foreign policy and participated in peaceful protests, in addition to blogging about corruption and human rights in Vietnam. ©Private

From now until 24 May 2012, send a letter to the Vietnam authorities to drop all charges against Nguyen Hoang Hai and immediately and unconditionally release him.

Who is Nguyen Hoang Hai?

Nguyen Hoang Hai is one of the co-founders of the independent Free Vietnamese Journalists’ Club. He is also a blogger and has used his blogs to expose corruption and promote human rights in Vietnam.

What happened to Nguyen Hoang Hai?

In September 2008, Nguyen Hoang Hai was convicted on politically motivated charges of tax fraud and sentenced to two and a half years in prison, which he completed in October 2010.

Instead of releasing him, the authorities told his family that he was being held for investigation for “conducting propaganda” against the state.

In July 2011, a prison official told his family he had “lost” an arm or hand, but did not provide further explanations.

More recently, he finally saw his lawyer for the first time in March 2012, but his family has been denied access to him repeatedly.

Got 3 minutes?

Send a letter to the Minister of Public Security and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam by adding your name below! We will deliver all the letters to authorities by post with your details appearing as below.

And don’t forget to send this link – http://bit.ly/IqP0Sm - to your friends! Ask them to take action too!

Got 3 hours?

We are looking for young people living in the Asia Pacific to involve their friends and local community by organizing a campaign activity to collect signatures! If you collect more than 50 signatures and send the petition papers back to us, we will send you a certificate for organizing this activity!

Here is how to do it:

1. Download this file and print as many copies as you think you may need (you should think about translating this to your local community language if you have time!).
2. Organize the logistics of your activity (it doesn’t have to be fancy, and make sure you have all the required permits!)
3. Collect signatures on the day of your activity, and take photos if possible!
4. Scan or take a photo of the petition papers with signatures, and email it to apyncampaigns@gmail.com.

Yong Vui Kong’s last hope is clemency from the President of Singapore, who can grant this only on the advice from the Cabinet. Clemency for a death sentence in Singapore has only been granted six times since independence in 1965. ©CNB

What’s new? Organize a campaigning activity to stop Yong Vui Kong’s execution!

On April 4, Yong Vui Kong’s third appeal against his death sentence was rejected and his last hope is clemency from the President of Singapore, who can grant this only on the advice from the Cabinet. From now until 17 May 2012, take part in a regional campaigning activity by collecting signatures in your local community to ask the Singaporean authorities to stop his execution!

This is also a good opportunity for newcomers to gain campaigning and mobilizing skills!

View NOW: http://bit.ly/HreTD3

Do more! Here’s your chance to lead APYN!

The Youth Ambassador initiative that YOU(th) have been waiting for is back! Apply to this 18-month volunteer leadership opportunity and create social change with your own project!

Deadline for application is next Tuesday, 10 April 2012 11:30pm Hong Kong time – late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Apply NOW: http://bit.ly/yb9FB4 (Make sure you read it carefully! And if you dont’ fit the requirements, please forward this email to others who do!)

Invite your friends to join APYN!

The Asia Pacific Youth Network (APYN) connects young people in Asia Pacific who want to work together to campaign for human rights change. There are currently more than 10,000 individuals in 29 countries – but this is not enough! Let’s get more people to take action for human rights change!

Invite friends to join APYN to develop and coordinate campaigning activities with youth across the region and for opportunities in leadership and others skills development.

Invite NOW: http://bit.ly/fXa2LA

Yong Vui Kong’s last hope is clemency from the President of Singapore, who can grant this only on the advice from the Cabinet.

From now until 17 May 2012, take part in this regional campaigning activity by collecting signatures in your local community to ask the Singapore authorities to stop Yong Vui Kong’s execution!

What happened?

Yong Vui Kong’s last hope is clemency from the President of Singapore, who can grant this only on the advice from the Cabinet. Clemency for a death sentence in Singapore has only been granted six times since independence in 1965. ©CNB

Yong Vui Kong was only a teenager when he was found guilty of carrying 47g of heroin from Malaysia into Singapore and was sentenced to death in January 2009.

In Singapore there is a mandatory death sentence for all drug trafficking cases involving more than 30g of heroin leaving judges no discretion to consider factors such as age, background of the offender or other special circumstances.

In January, Yong Vui Kong’s lawyer submitted an appeal application stating that Yong Vui Kong should not be executed because of unequal treatment by the Attorney-General’s Chambers. This is because while Yong Vui Kong has been sentenced to death, the 26 charges brought by the Attorney-General’s chambers against his boss (a Singaporean alleged to have organized the crime) have been withdrawn.

This was the third appeal for Yong Vui Kong, and was rejected was rejected because “it has absolutely no merit on the law and on the facts”. The ruling said that the appeal contained “mere assertions” and some were “contrary to evidence”.

Yong Vui Kong has already spent over four years on death row, and now, his last hope is clemency from the President of Singapore, who can grant this only on the advice from the Cabinet.

Got 3 minutes?

Send a letter to the President of Singapore and the Foreign Minister of Malaysia by adding your name below! We will deliver all the letters to authorities by post and copies will be sent to The Online Citizen (an alternative news source for Singapore) with your details appearing as below.

And don’t forget to send this link – http://bit.ly/HreTD3 - to your friends! Ask them to take action too!

Got 3 hours?

We are looking for young people living int he Asia Pacific to involve their friends and local community by organizing a campaign activity to collect signatures! If you collect more than 50 signatures and send the petition papers back to us, we will send you a certificate for organizing this activity!

Here is how to do it:

1. When you add your name below, select ‘I want to collect signatures in my local community’ for the question ‘Would you like to do more?’
2. We will send you petition papers by email, and you should print as many copies as you think you may need.
3. Organize the logistics of your activity (it doesn’t have to be fancy, and make sure you have all the required permits!)
4. Collect signatures on the day of your activity, and take photos if possible!
5. Scan or take a photo of the petition papers with signatures, and email it to apyncampaigns@gmail.com.

Actions YOU(th) took for Yong Vui Kong last year:

Don’t execute Yong Vui Kong!

UPDATE: Yong Vui Kong may be executed ANYTIME!!!

Our friends at AIPP and NEPA are collecting signatures to support Indigenous Lotha Nagas*! They’ve asked the APYN through the APYN Indigenous Rights Campaign Team to help? Will you?

What happened?

Oil spills from well sites to farmlands ©NEPA

Over 2,000 Lotha Naga indigenous people’s rights as an indigenous community to water, food, health, work, their cultural values and identity are being violated!

Their villages in Wokha district of Nagaland, India, have been severely affected by extensive oil spills from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) well sites in their villages for almost twenty years now! (Click here if you want to know more about the history)

How are they being affected?
The oil spillage has contaminated the farmlands, forests and water sources the community relies on for their survival. It has even tainted their spiritual sites.

Health problems in the district have also increased a lot in this area since the spills, with higher rates of water-borne diseases, malnutrition, miscarriages, cancer, kidney failure and nerve problems.

Got 3 seconds?

Recently, a case has been filed on behalf of the community at Guwahati High Court against the ONGC, Government of Nagaland and its affiliated departments.

Let’s pressure the authorities to protect the rights of Lotha Nagas with voices from young people in Asia Pacific!

Our friends at AIPP and NEPA are collecting signatures to support Indigenous Lotha Nagas online – add your name here or http://chn.ge/zXxNSN by 30 April 2012. Don’t forget to share it with your friends!

Got 3 hours?

Sign up here to organize an activity in your local community and get your friends to take action too! Send scanned or photographed copies of the petitions back to apyncampaigns@gmail.com by 15 April 2012 and we will deliver the petitions to the authorities via our friends at AIPP and NEPA. Here is how it will work:

1. Sign up below
2. We will send you the petition papers – print and make copies
3. Organize an activity (remember to take photos!) or bring the petition papers with you where you go and ask your friends to sign the petition!
4. Scan or take a photo of the petition papers, and email it to apyncampaigns@gmail.com
5. Done!

Background

The ONGC began extraction in 1981 after acquiring permission from the Nagaland government to explore oil and natural gas in Changpang and Tsorri villages of the district. The government issued permission without obtaining consent of the community. Only after continued protests by numerous civil society groups for over a decade, did the government withdraw permission in 1994.

However, because of improper and negligent capping of the oil well sites by the ONGC, the spillage has continued for over 17 years now and continues to affect the lives of the peoples in the villages. Before the extraction was stopped, the ONGC is estimated to have produced more than 1.2 million metric tons of oil from this area; yet the company appears not to have used even a portion of the profit it made to ensure the sites were properly secured, so the environment and people in it has suffered terribly.

*Disclaimer: The views expressed in this activity represent our friends at AIPP and NEPA and individuals in the APYN Indigenous Youth Campaign Team and do not necessarily reflect those of the Asia Pacific Youth Network, all APYN partners or its members.

Back to the top
Take action now!

Over an 18 month period, you will work with young human rights activists/advocates/interested individuals from across the Asia Pacific Region to develop your own projects in one of the following streams: 1) Local Community; 2) Regional Campaign; and 3) Online Facilitation.

While this is a great opportunity, we are warning you that it’s a lot of work! Click here for an overview of the initiative.

To give you a better picture of what you will be doing during the 18 month period, here is a rough timeline of minimum activities required for all Youth Ambassadors: (Blue: planned activities, Orange: depends on action plans/needs)

Youth Ambassadors are volunteers. They do not recieve payment. All successful Ambassadors must commit for a period of 18 months, from selection announcement until December 2013.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment or email apynya@gmail.com.

Click here to apply!

Over an 18 month period, you will work with young human rights activists/advocates/interested individuals from across the Asia Pacific Region to develop your own projects in one of the following streams: 1) Local Community; 2) Regional Campaign; and 3) Online Facilitation.

Local Community Stream
Youth Ambassadors in this stream will develop an action plan to campaign on a human rights issue in your local community that is also related to the Asia Pacific region. You will also connect your local community with young people in Asia Pacific by working with other Youth Ambassadors to organize activities on human rights issues in the region. add organization support

Regional Campaign Stream
The main difference between this stream and the Local Community Stream is that you will build a small team of youth activists in different countries in Asia Pacific (like APYN Youth Campaign Teams) and work together to develop an action plan to campaign on one of these human rights issues:

• Human rights and poverty
• Women’s issues
• Indigenous peoples
• Migrant workers

You will also connect your team and campaign with APYN by working with other Youth Ambassadors to organize activities human rights issues in the region. add organization support

Online Facilitation Stream
Youth Ambassadors in this stream will focus all their energy on leading online campaigns and getting young people to take action online! While Youth Ambassadors in the above two streams will spend most of their time facilitating their teams, you will be responsible for facilitating APYN online spaces (like APYN Fanpageor APYN on twitter), content management for this website, and creating new online tools for campaigning. If you do not have a local organization to support you, it’s OK – contact us for alternative arrangements.

Youth Ambassadors are volunteers. They do not recieve payment. All successful Ambassadors must commit for a period of 18 months, from selection announcement until December 2013.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment or email apynya@gmail.com.

Click here to apply!

The APYN Youth Ambassador initiative is a leadership learning and networking opportunity for young people in Asia Pacific who want to develop their leadership skills with APYN and campaigns for social change. 

Over an 18 month period, you will work with young human rights activists/advocates/interested individuals from across the Asia Pacific Region to develop your own projects in one of the following streams: 1) Local Community; 2) Regional Campaign; and 3) Online Facilitation.

How do YOU(th) apply? (Application Requirements)

1. Read the overview of the initiative again to get a clear understanding, especially the different project streams and what is expected from you as a Youth Ambassador.

2. All Local Community and Regional Campaign project applicants are required to have support from a local community organization. Find an organization that will mentor and support you at the local level for 18 months! Click here for detailed information about local community organizations. Support from a community organization/partner is recommended but not required for Online Facilitation project applicants.

3. Complete the application form below. The deadline for application is 10 April 2012 11:30pm Hong Kong time. Incomplete applications and ones submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

4. Co-Facilitators will contact shortlisted candidates for interviews by April 16, 2012.

5. We will announce successful candidates on 27 April 2012. If your application is not successful, there are still many other ways to become an APYN youth leader!

What is the selection criteria?

• From and currently lives in Asia Pacific
• Aged between 16-30 years old
• Able to commit at least 3 to 5 hours a week to attend preparation and skills training workshops and delivering an action plan from April/May 2012 and end of December 2013 and beyond
• Interested in developing leadership, campaigning and mobilization skills
• Enjoy working in teams and providing mutual support to team mates on projects
• Interested in mobilizing other young people for social change
• Currently involved in a youth network
• Have ready internet access
• Able to communicate in English
• Preferred: Demonstrated involvement in 3 (regional network e.g. APYN) activities and/or active involvement in APYN over the past 18 months

This is the third cycle of APYN Youth Ambassadors! Click here to read about the Youth Ambassador experience! 

The deadline for application is 10 April 2012 11:30pm Hong Kong time. Incomplete applications and ones submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

While this is a great opportunity, we are warning you that it’s a lot of work!

What’s this all about?

The APYN Youth Ambassador initiative is a leadership learning and networking opportunity for young people in Asia Pacific who want to develop their leadership skills with APYN and campaigns for social change. Youth Ambassadors are volunteers. They do not recieve payment. All successful Ambassadors must commit for a period of 18 months, from selection announcement until December 2013.

Over an 18 month period, you will work with young human rights activists/advocates/interested individuals from across the Asia Pacific Region to develop your own projects in one of the following streams: 1) Local Community; 2) Regional Campaign; and 3) Online Facilitation. Click here to read about the details of the project streams.

We know it sounds like a lot, but don’t worry! You will be supported with guidance and training to ensure you have all the skills to complete your projects! Here is an overview of support and training for leadership & campaigning:

• Peer support groups: Ambassadors will be divided in peer-support groups based on your streams for support and guidance from your peers and your Co-Facilitator (an experienced APYN youth leader!). Co-Facilitators will mentor Youth Ambassadors and facilitate them to implement their action plans, monitor the project, and evaluate the work in the end of the 18 month period;
• Skills training
• Campaigning exposure period for 3 months: Co-Facilitators will plan 2 to 3 campaigning activities for Youth Ambassadors to implement. The purpose here is for Youth Ambassadors to get some practical experience and see how they can overcome certain challenges.
• Support from local community organization/partner: All Youth Ambassadors need to seek support from a local community organization/partner as part of the application process. Local community organizations/partners will provide guidance and support at the local level (ie. providing meeting space or advice on the local context)

Click here to see what life will be like for Youth Ambassadors for the 18 month period.

By the end of the program…

And your leadership does not end after December 2013! All Co-Facilitators and Youth Ambassadors who complete their projects are expected to stay with APYN and take on governance responsibilities. This means defining APYN’s strategic direction, maintaing APYN’s operations, and of course, running the next round of Youth Ambassadors to create more youth leaders!

 How do YOU(th) become a Youth Ambassador?

1. Read this page again to get a clear understanding of the program, especially the different project streams and what is expected from you as a Youth Ambassador.

2. All Youth Ambassadors are required to have support from a local community organization – except for Online Facilitation project Ambassadors. Find an organization that will mentor and support you at the local level for 18 months! Click here for detailed information about local community organizations.

3. Complete the application form below. The deadline for application is 10 April 2012 11:30pm Hong Kong time. Incomplete applications and ones submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

4. Co-Facilitators will contact shortlisted candidates for online interviews by April 16, 2012.

5. We will announce successful candidates in early May 2012. If your application is not successful, there are still many other ways to become an APYN youth leader!

What is the selection criteria?

• Currently lives in Asia Pacific region and plans to until December 2013
  
• Aged between 16-30 years old at time of application
• Able to commit at least 3 to 5 hours a week to attend preparation and skills training workshops and delivering an action plan from April/May 2012 to the end of December 2013 and beyond
• Interested in developing leadership, campaigning and mobilization skills
• Enjoy working in teams and providing mutual support to team mates on projects
• Interested in mobilizing other young people for social change
• Currently involved in some form of youth network, in contact with young people in your own community
• Have ready internet access (able to access at least three times a week)
• Able to communicate in English (written and spoken)
• Preferred: Demonstrated involvement in 3 (regional network e.g. APYN) activities and/or active involvement in APYN over the past 18 months

Think YOU got what it takes for this 18 month leadership program? Click here to immediately start your application process!