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November 2023

Asian Young Leaders for Climate and the Environment

The future of the planet is ours to shape.

Apply now
Key information

Who's it for?

Young professionals and students aged 18-25, across the ASEAN

Duration

Phase 1: 6 days in person in Singapore

Phase 2: Online mentoring and implementation in your community across 2 months

Cost

Free

Format

In-person and Online

Dates

Phase 1: 5-10 November 2023 (Singapore)

Phase 2: 20 November 2023 to 30 January 2024 (Online)

In just two decades, the youth of today will inherit our Earth. Every action we take now will impact the next generations to come. The path forward is clear: our planet needs young trailblazers who can defy generational and sectoral boundaries. To do this, young leaders must have the tools to deal with complex problems, and the networks to provide them access to the climate and environmental action ecosystem.

That’s where our programme, Asian Young Leaders for Climate and the Environment (AYLCE) comes in. In tandem with Earthshot Week in Singapore, AYLCE brings together 50 young climate enthusiasts, aged 18-25 from across Asia to take part in the flurry of activities the event will bring to Singapore and its community, along with joining the unique opportunity to learn new skills in leadership, better connect with like-minded individuals and together, shape the future of our planet.

Our approach

How it works

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The programme is split into two key phases, with phase one taking place in-person over six days in Singapore as part of the official Earthshot Prize Programme.

Phase one: Participants will take part in sessions where you will connect with industry leaders, peers, and visit renowned climate change organizations. You will also learn about Cultural Intelligence, and how this can be implemented into your leadership styles when approaching complex problems.

Phase one (continued): You will work closely together in teams to generate actionable ideas across the themes of biodiversity, waste management, water, ocean plastics, food security and sustainability, and sustainable fashion. As a team, you will present your ideas and solutions to a panel of judges for feedback.

Phase two: As a team, it is time to bring your idea to life! You will turn your solution into a reality as you look to make real change in your proposed community. You will be assigned an industry mentor to guide you through the implementation process. Each group will also receive US$1,000 in seed funding to help you bring these solutions to life.

Phase two (continued): On 30 January 2024, you will reconvene as a team online and give a final presentation reporting on the success of your project and share how it has made an impact.

Partners

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Programme outcomes

What's in it for me?

Learn essential leadership skills

You will develop the crucial leadership skills needed to collaborate effectively and address complex challenges.

Connect with experts, broaden your network

Experience the invaluable opportunity to connect with and learn from industry experts and environmental changemakers.

A financial leg-up

Your group will receive seed funding of US$1,000 so you can implement your solutions and turn your ideas into impactful actions.

Build your community

The programme aims to spark a vibrant community of like-minded young people who share a passion and commitment to taking action on the climate change.

Attend the Earthshot Prize Awards

As well as taking part in various Earthshot Prize activities over the week, on November 7, you will have the opportunity to attend the Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony in Singapore.

What happens on AYLCE?

As a participant, you will be part of a 50-strong cohort from across Asia, experiencing an exciting six-day in-person programme in Singapore and a two-month online mentoring and implementation phase. You will experience:

Phase one in Singapore (5–10 November 2023)

  • A highly immersive environment leadership programme with Singapore as a classroom
  • Attend The Earthshot Prize Awards in Singapore
  • Immersions to renowned organizations and partners to ignite your passion in tackling climate change
  • Speaking to and networking with The Earthshot Prize finalists and awardees
  • Forming idea groups and tackle different environmental challenges through an idea generation process
  • Presenting your solutions to a panel of distinguished judges

Phase two – Online (20 November 2023 to 30 January 2024)

  • Implement your idea in your community
  • Gain access to mentors who will guide you through the process
  • Access seed funding of US$1,000, to launch your project in your community and create the impact you want to see

 

*Participants must commit fully to both parts of the programme. 

The experience

An experience like no other...

The Asian Young Leaders for Climate and the Environment programme is an unforgettable experience delivering exclusive access to industry and regional leaders, including their challenges and their innovative thinking. The first phase of the programme will focus on collaboration and ideation and will equip you with crucial leadership skills including Cultural Intelligence. Putting these focus points into practice, you will work in teams to come up with innovative ideas and solutions that tackle climate change.  

Over this period, you will also have the invaluable opportunity to attend the Earthshot Prize Awards in-person and attend its associated events over the week in Singapore, immersing yourself in some of the most innovative and impactful environmental solutions happening in the world.  

Sharing your ideas and solutions with a mentor, as well as receiving seed funding in phase two will help to bring your ideas to life, and along the way, you’ll learn so much more about yourself – what drives you, what your strengths are and how you can use your voice to make a difference. 

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Megan Choong
University of Manchester
"The range of individuals brought to speak to us is very diverse, it allowed me to encounter different perspectives beyond my line of profession. These stakeholders allowed me to better frame my organizational intentions."
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Rejaynil M. Valdez
University of the Philippines Los Banos
"The programme helped me broaden my perspective about putting ideas into reality on how to be an ambassador of change for sustainable environment, not only in my local setting but in other ASEAN regions. The programme helped me cross boundaries such as diversity and cultural differences. I learned to value and respect the ideas of others and gain knowledge and friends."

Next steps

Are you ready?

Step forward and use your voice to shape our earth’s future.

Process

Ready to apply?

The programme costs are FREE for all participants including accommodation, food and transport during the programme. Participants will only have to cover the cost of their own flights, travel insurance and visa (if any) to and from Singapore.

Criteria for selection:

  • Firm desire and dedication to take discernible action towards climate change and environmental issues.
  • Demonstrated strong commitment to learning and leadership.
  • For students, an above-average academic standing, and a demonstrated track record of working in teams on outcomes-based projects over a significant period of time.
  • For Singaporeans, a willingness to buddy-up with a foreign counterpart during their stay in Singapore during the programme week in Phase one.
  • Between ages 18-25. 

For more information:​ Download the programme flyer which has more information and FAQs.

Application deadline: 1 October 2023

Apply now
Download flyer

Frequently asked questions

Yes, if you have any further questions or would just like to discuss the programme in more detail, please reach out to a member of our team in your specific location who would be delighted to help.

Get in touch

We are a global not-for-profit leadership development organization on a mission to develop people who can cross cultural, social, and institutional boundaries. We work passionately with people to help push the boundaries of what is possible, all so that they can become those who can help us to work better together, be the connectors of our unique lived experiences and lead, with a difference.

Yes! The Common Purpose Charitable Trust was established as a charity in 1989. It is registered with the Charity Commission under the Registered Charity number 1023384.

The benefits of Common Purpose leadership programmes include gaining increased:  

  • Agility in adapting to changing circumstances and environments.  

  • Empathy to what other people feel, think and need. Seeing things from their point of view.

  • Influence in leading change with limited decision-making power.  

  • Openness to new ideas, possibilities and perspectives, including views they might deeply disagree with.    

  • Purposefulness in leading with intentionality, determination, commitment and resilience.

  • Self-awareness to their behaviours and outlook, and how they interpret and respond to situations.

When it comes to learning, there is no substitute for the power of real experience and fresh perspective. Our approach uses a robust behaviour and mindset change philosophy rooted in real life leadership challenges and experiences. To turn those experiences into real learning we follow five tried and tested steps that lead to habitual change in how people think, feel and act.    

  1. Experience: Being presented with new experiences. Engaging with leaders across multiple boundaries and being immersed in new environments.   

  1. Reflection: Learning activities to gain a deeper and more personalized understanding of the learning.    

  1. Translate: Exploring how to relate new ideas and thought processes back into the learner’s role or context.

  1. Practice: Developing a set of leadership practices that can be used to turn new behaviours into habits.

  1. Assess: Embedding numerous assessments to help learners track their progress pre, during and even beyond the programme.

Experiential learning is a core component of our programmes.

Our programmes create a carefully constructed microclimate to explore real-life leadership challenges in a safe environment, often leading to the types of purpose-driven conversations needed to achieve transformative change.

We also focus on the importance of active learning, by getting people out of their comfort zones and into the world, seeing things, meeting people, taking part, and taking advantage of processes that stimulate multiple neural connections in the brain and promote memory.