Press release
UNESCO LAUNCHES THE PROGRAM ON YOUTH INNOVATIVE IDEA FOR AN OCEAN WITHOUT PLASTIC
Ha Noi 14th July 2020 To promote the key role of youth in the sustainable development of Viet Nam the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO in cooperation with the Cu Lao Cham Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve officially launches a call for Youth Innovative Ideas for an Ocean without Plastic under the framework of the Youth and Innovation 4 Ocean Initiative implemented by UNESCO in partnership with the Coca Cola Foundation
The statistics are sobering about 8 million metric tons of plastic are discarded into the ocean annually with a significant amount originating in Asia including Vietnam At this rate by 2050 the ocean is on track to contain more plastic than fish
It is with this in mind that UNESCO is launching the Youth Innovative Ideas for an Ocean without Plastic Programme to provide training and mentoring to groups of youth and young professionals to empower them to use their creative energy and talent to develop solutions in the areas of collecting sorting treating recycling and reusing of plastic waste
Through the programme young people will have the opportunity to propose ideas receive trainings by experts acquire onfield implementation experience and receive financial and technical support to implement their initiatives at the Cu Lao Cham Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve as well as to participate in other related national and regional initiatives of the Organization
Awards include three first prizes valued at 70 million VND which will support the implementation of ideas and three runnerup prizes valued at 10 million VND
The Programme will engage youth and young professionals aged between 1830 across Viet Nam Candidates can be formed in groups of up to five people and gender equality will be a key consideration Application forms and ideas should be submitted via the link httpsbitly38IKe5s before 25 August 2020 The results of the competition will be announced in midSeptember 2020 and the Mentoring Program at the Cu Lao Cham Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve is foreseen for the end of September 2020 with the final round held in Hanoi in November 2020
The Youth Innovative Ideas for an Ocean without Plastic Programme is under the framework of the Youth and Innovation for Ocean Initiative carried out by UNESCO in partnership with Coca Cola Foundation It links to the Organizations Regional Plastic Initiative which aims to support innovative and practical solutions contributing to build a circular economy and towards the sustainable development of the ocean
For more information please contact
Ms Le Viet Anh Project Officer UNESCO Viet Nam
304 Kim Ma Ha Noi Viet Nam
Email valeunescoorg
Tel 84 24 3850 1882
