#Y4AGRI is the banner youth engagement initiative of SEARCA. Guided by the principle of "by the youth, for the youth, and with the once youth," the program aims to nurture young people as partners and leaders for agricultural innovation.
Stakeholders and Pillars
#Y4AGRI aims to work for and work with out-of-school and in-school youth from school children and high school students to university students and young professionals (kiddies to yuppies).
The program's strategies and activities revolve around four pillars:
SEARCA as promoter
Develop platforms promoting a transformative mindset in agriculture, particularly among children and youth in farming families and communities.
SEARCA as capacity-builder
Improve youth access to information, technologies, and skills enhancement opportunities in modern agriculture.
SEARCA as champion
Enhance youth participation in program and policy discussions on issues and opportunities for accelerating agricultural transformation.
SEARCA as enabler
Recognize and support emerging youth leaders and groups advocating for youth led innovations in Southeast Asian agriculture.
SAYAP is a walk-the-talk initiative of SEARCA by engaging the "young ones" of SEARCA's workforce both from the program and administrative sectors of the Center. SAYAP members are provided with opportunities to enhance their skills, learn from the "once young," and take the lead in some activities that are by the youth, for the youth, and with the once youth.
SAYAP organizes SEARCArunungan para sa SEARCAbataan, an internal dialogue by and for the SEARCA young ones with the SEARCA young once. The dialogue is a conversational space to enable knowledge exchanges on topics that are essential for the youth's professional and personal development, as well as to gather youth perspectives on SEARCA's programs and activities.
Moreover, SAYAP also celebrates the annual International Youth Day with activities aligning with each year's theme.
Youth in Agri Talk Show
Youth in Agri Talk Show is a non-academic and non-conventional approach to learning to promote agriculture and its importance to Southeast Asian youth, particularly those in basic education.
Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba | 2 May 2024 | Laguna, Philippines
Pusat Asasi Sains Universiti Putra Malaysia (ASPutra) | 10 May 2024 | Selangor, Malaysia
Junior SAYAP
Junior SAYAP is a platform designed to empower student youth organizations and groups, fostering their active involvement in agricultural research and development (ARD). Through this initiative, students will be well-equipped to become advocates and ambassadors for sustainable agricultural practices, both within their schools and in their broader communities, promoting a culture of environmental stewardship and innovation.
We are looking for interested youth leaders to become pioneer members of the platform and serve as SAYAP's partners-on-the ground to:
Help disseminate IEC materials aimed at increasing awareness of the role of agriculture in food security and economic development.
Extend opportunities for skills development by engaging them in developing and implementing youth engagement activities.
SEARCA Youth
Stories Competition
SEARCA Youth Stories Competition is a video contest that aims to realize the challenges and adversities that the youth in agriculture experienced or are experiencing and gather their solutions and actions. This video contest serves as an avenue for the youth in agriculture to speak their minds, tell their stories, and be heard.
Southeast Asian Youth Fest
The Southeast Asian Youth Fest (SYF) brought together stakeholders, particularly young people, from across Southeast Asia to address the current state and future directions of food security in the region. The event was aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), focusing on goals 2, 9, 12, 13, and 17.
Under the theme "Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages," #Y4AGRI designed SYF to bridge generations. The event kicked off with a Regional Youth Forum—held virtually and open to the public—under the SEARCA Online Learning and Virtual Engagements (SOLVE) platform, facilitating dialogue between the current youth and previous generations. The second part of the event featured a Southeast Asian food exhibition, conducted onsite and by invitation, aimed at enhancing awareness and appreciation of food——how we produce, prepare, and consume it.
The Virtual Youth Camp is designed to enable youth perspectives on challenges and solutions in the agri-food system amidst and post-pandemic. On the first VYC, there were 21 Filipino youth representatives from the academe, business, civil society, and government sectors who shared insights on navigating the agri-food system and engaging the youth on it.
News and Updates
-
24 September 2024SEARCA Center Director mentors food system youth advocates
-
16 September 2024SEARCA rolls out Sowing Seeds program in Thailand
-
11 September 2024SEARCA gives voice to youth's values
-
6 September 2024Thailand RAIN project staff tapped in SEARCA agri career orientation
-
6 August 2024MSU grads challenged to be AI masters, agri innovators
-
17 November 2023Homeschoolers explore agri-robotics at SEARCA
-
13 November 2023SEARCA continues to empower youth with green skills
-
6 September 2023SEARCA, DFFS empower youth with green skills
-
31 May 2023SEARCA pilots agri talk show for the youth
-
31 March 2023DFA Usec. Domingo visits SEARCA
-
30 November 2021Laguna youth engage in an info-demo session on hydroponics farming
-
18 October 2021“Food sustainability starts with YOUth!” — SEARCA Youth Lead
-
5 October 2020SEARCA announces youth COVIDeo contest winners
-
6 July 2020SEARCA forges ties with global youth network
-
29 February 2020SEARCA awards seed fund to UPRHS for Youth Program on Agriculture
-
20 February 2020SEARCA to host youth session of the 3rd PH Environment Summit
