Meet the Regional Young People’s Action Team
(YPAT)
The theme for this year’s #WorldChildrensDay is equality and inclusion. It is a reminder that investing in the future means investing in young people. That is why the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office is thrilled to introduce its first Regional Young People’s Action Team (YPAT).
Join 37 young leaders from across East Asia and the Pacific on this journey, as they build their advocacy skills, connect local issues to regional and global platforms and meaningfully participate in the decisions that affect their lives.
The objective
The Young People’s Action Team aims to support systematic meaningful engagement of young people at the regional level in a way that both draws on and contributes to their skills, experience and networks. Through their role as advocates and representatives of the YPAT, members hope to inform UNICEF programming, participate in mentoring and networking opportunities, engage in regional advocacy, contribute to regional capacity building and connect local issues to regional or global platforms.
In facilitating the establishment of the regional YPAT, UNICEF seeks to further empower these young leaders to stand up for their rights and the rights of others.
Who are the YPAT members?
Hailing from 12 countries across East Asia and the Pacific, members of the Regional Young People’s Action Team are advocates for mental health and well-being, proponents of equal access to education, champions of climate action and environmental sustainability, supporters of young people’s right to safety & protection (online and offline) and promoters of civic engagement & participation for young people.
Open to young people between the ages of 10-24 years old, of all gender identities, from a variety of cultural backgrounds, and with a range of skills, abilities and experiences, the team seeks to reflect the diversity of the region it is in. After one year, current members will leave their seats for a new cohort of members.
Cameron Artango
Papua New Guinea
22 years old
Champion of gender equality, SRHR and meaningful youth engagement.
Chintya Maulini
Indonesia
17 years old
Passionate about youth engagement and participation.
Diana Nur Izati
Indonesia
24 years old
Working to build awareness on young people's right to safety and protection online and offline.
Erika Teng Gui
Philippines
18 years old
Passionate about environmental protection, wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
Erwin Mahendra Eka Saputra
Indonesia
22 years old
Passionate about strengthening community capacity in disaster management and child protection.
Garid Mendbayar
Mongolia
17 years old
Committed to defending children’s rights in a changing climate.
Joalita Teresa Magno
Timor-Leste
21 years old
Passionate advocate for gender equality and youth empowerment.
Julia S. Pastor
Philippines
23 years old
Passionate advocate for LGBTIQ+ representation and visibility and elevating HIV/AIDS awareness among youth.
Khishigbuyan Bolorchuluun
Mongolia
15 years old
A lover of physics and its applications in solving the climate crisis.
Khwanchanok (JiaJia) Paka-Akaralerdkul
Thailand
15 years old
Passionate about improving access to healthcare and education.
Le Hoang Hai
Viet Nam
24 years old
Supports youth-led organizations in driving action towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Lê Thanh Thuỳ Dương
Viet Nam
15 years old
Supports women, children and ethnic minorities through educational and food security projects.
Liew Xin Qi
Malaysia
Advocate for mental health and well-being.
Passionate about improving access to education and helping vulnerable communities
LY Sreylin
Cambodia
19 years old
Advocate for child protection online.
Madeline Lee Ee Zin
Malaysia
18 years old
Fearless advocate for accessibility, inclusivity and intersectionality.
Meekham Kandasak
Lao PDR
19 years old
Passionate about volunteering and climate action.
Michael Nugraha Budiarto
Indonesia
21 years old
Working to change the way young people think about and engage in their education.
Muhammad Trisna Kusuma Wardana
Indonesia
19 years old
Advocate for sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) education.
Muhammadharis Jiman
Thailand
20 years old
Creates safe spaces for youth dialogue on equity, diversity and inclusion.
Myagmarsuren Gansukh
Mongolia
Actively working to improve the situation of children's rights in Mongolia
Nadia Kun
Papua New Guinea
22 years old
Advocate for mental health and well-being and equality.
Natania Marcia Da Cruz Claver
Timor-Leste
21 years old
Community organizer with an interest in mental health and sexual and reproductive health rights.
Nguyen Thi Xuan Na
Viet Nam
17 years old
Raising awareness of mental health through activism and the arts.
Ni Ni Win Maung
Myanmar
22 years old
Eager to promote human rights and share legal awareness in her community.
Nikka Gerona
Philippines
22 years old
Passionate about climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Phanomphone Phaouthoum
Lao PDR
19 years old
Passionate about children’s participation.
Ricardo Valente Basmeri dos Reis Araújo
Timor-Leste
24 years old
Passionate advocate for human rights and youth empowerment.
Romam Blen
Cambodia
20 years old
Advocate for indigenous youth voices.
Sodanin Net
Cambodia
22 years old
Advocate for gender equality, women and girls rights.
Sumitra Sutthisongtham
Thailand
24 years old
Working to help improve young people’s skills and employability in Thailand.
Thukha Aung
Myanmar
20 years old
Striving to improve young people’s access to mental health services in Myanmar.
Vicheka Phorn
Cambodia
Actively working in child’s rights governance, youth empowerment and gender inclusion.
Mark Devon Maitim
Philippines
23 years old
Working to address and destigmatize youth mental health challenges.
Rotario Delgado da Silva
Timor-Leste
23 years old
Passionate about youth empowerment and 21st century skills development.
Worrawantra Nuam-in
Thailand
18 years old
Advocates for child protection, youth participation, and decent education through art.
What's next
Over the next year, the YPAT will tackle pressing social issues in the East Asia and Pacific region; share recommendations to shape UNICEF programmes & campaigns; network with like-minded advocates, and take active steps to ensure that the voices of young people are heard on the local, regional and global level. They are young enough to change the world, so make sure you follow their work at #YPATinAction!