The Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO (MNCU), in collaboration with the UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta, Penang Hill Corporation (PHC), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Vivo Telecommunication Company (vivo), successfully organised the Capacity-building Workshop: “Capture the Future: Global Youth Storytelling Initiative for People and Nature” from 25 to 26 April 2026 at USM, Penang Island. Malaysia was proudly selected as one of only three countries globally to host this prestigious UNESCO-led initiative, alongside Egypt and Italy, reflecting international recognition of the country’s commitment to youth empowerment, sustainable development, and biosphere reserve conservation. In this programme, MNCU highlighted Malaysia’s 2026–2035 education agenda, which aims to promote sustainability by nurturing globally aware and responsible learners, embedding sustainable practices, and empowering youth as storytellers of their communities’ future.
Held under the theme “Youth Lens for Biosphere Reserves: Local Stories for Global Impact”, the workshop has engaged together around 250 youth participants from schools, vocational institutions, universities, youth institutions and communities surrounding the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve (PHBR). The programme aimed to empower youth as advocates and changemakers for sustainability through visual storytelling, photography and short-film production, while strengthening awareness on biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
Through interactive sessions, field activities, and mentorship from experts at UNESCO, PHC, and vivo, participants documented local sustainability stories across PHBR's various sites. Beyond enhancing creative and communication skills, the initiative amplified youth voices as powerful drivers of change, helping shape a more sustainable and resilient future for both communities and nature.
The video can be accessed via this link:
