In response to challenges of the new era, the United Nations Secretary-General has emphasised the crucial need for young people to enhance their skills for the burgeoning green and digital economies*.
Over the past year, CKC supported young people in Hue city with these critical skills, preparing them to make their significant impact on the world.
In fall – winter 2023, CKC contributed to improve energy management and auditing skills among lower secondary students through the ‘YEAH! – Promoting Energy Saving Practices for Students in Hue: Small Actions towards Environmental Protection‘ project funded by the Australian Volunteers International (AVI).
In spring – summer 2024, CKC continued with the journey to improve young people’s digital skills within the framework of the Data Science Explorers Program (ASEAN Data Science Explorers 2024) funded by the ASEAN Foundation. CKC organised 25 free training sessions on data analysis (Analytics Clouds) and application development (Apps Development) on the SAP platform for more than 1,100 young people between the ages of 15 and 30.
On World Youth Skills Day 2024 (July 15), themed ‘Youth Skills for Peace and Development,’ CKC proudly stands alongside Vietnam’s young generation, offering opportunities for learning and growth to inspire their development.
Source: UN Press, 2024, accessed at: https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22297.doc.htm
(Han Nguyen)
Have you ever wondered about the life cycle of a plastic product? On International Free Plastic Bag Day, which falls on July 3rd, let’s join CKC to explore the various stages of a plastic product’s life cycle to understand the trade-offs related to their convenience and perceived cost savings.
- Extraction, refining, and production: Before reaching consumers, plastic products undergo extensive chemical transformations from vast fossil fuels. The process of extracting, transporting, and refining can annually release up to 12.5 million tons of greenhouse gases into the environment, with an additional 184 to 213 million tons emitted during production.
- Distribution and consumption: Globally, approximately 300 million tons of plastic are distributed and consumed each year, with more than half being disposable items. On average, a plastic bag is used for just 12 minutes before disposal.
- Disposal and recycle: Despite prevalent eco-friendly messaging on product labels, only about 2% of plastic waste is effectively recycled*. The majority is either incinerated, buried in landfills, or ends up in oceans. It is estimated that a plastic product takes more than 1,000 years to decompose.
Landfilling, incineration, or recycling has never provided a sustainable solution for managing plastic waste. Genuine environmental progress will only be achieved when we relinquish the convenience of plastic products.
*Effective recycling: Refers to the process of recycling plastic products back into materials suitable for their original use, though this can only be done once before the downcycle.
Source:
2021, The Story of Plastic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO3SA4YyEYU
2023, Kayla Vasarhelyi, The impact of plastic on climate change, https://www.colorado.edu/…/impact-plastic-climate-change
(Han Nguyen)
May was an exhilarating month for the ASEAN Data Science Explorers 2024 Program (ASEAN DSE 2024), with numerous training and networking events organised by CKC. Let’s look back at the eventful “Data Explorers” expedition:
- Fourteen (14) complimentary training sessions were held for over 550 young individuals from diverse academic backgrounds, with a majority of over 65% being female participants.
- A four-day immersive experience with direct interactions and knowledge exchange among CKC, Ms. Fidia – ASEAN Foundation’s representative, and nearly 200 students from School of Tourism and Hospitality and Hue University of Sciences from May 9th to May 12th, 2024.
- A thought-provoking talk show on “Data Explorers” took place on May 17th, 2024, attracting 394 students specialising in Planning and Investment (Hue University of Economics). These students recognized data as the primary asset in the era of industry 4.0 and embraced the study of data analysis as fundamental to crafting forecasts, strategies, and developmental plans within their field.
- A networking session on the ASEAN DSE 2024 facilitated connectivity between CKC and students from the Faculty of Information Technology at Hoa Sen University, Ho Chi Minh City on May 25th, 2024.
As May comes to an end, CKC will conclude the ASEAN DSE 2024 journey with final activities. CKC extends gratitude to the collaborative efforts and support from functional departments, academic institutions such as University of Sciences, University of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Economics, and School of Tourism and Hospitality, along with all participants. Special thanks are reserved for our master trainers, whose partnership and knowledge sharing enriched the ASEAN DSE 2024 journey alongside CKC.
Photo: Hue University of Economics