Cambodia Laos Young Leaders Programme

CLYLP offers young leaders the opportunity to explore new ideas and approaches to sustainable development both in their own country and Aotearoa New Zealand, inspiring them to think creatively about the challenges in their own communities. Participants follow a group programme and work together on an inclusive, cross-ethnic basis. Each young leader will explore a specific development challenge affecting their community, develop and refine a research question on this topic, and prepare a proposal for a participatory action project to address the challenge.

CLYLP CONTENT

The study component of the CLYLP involves approximately 150 hours of online learning and 14 weeks in person. It includes two courses: Sustainable Development and English for Development. Both courses combine theory and practice, with an emphasis on applied learning.

Sustainable Development Course (SDC):

The Sustainable Development Course (SDC) will be delivered in two parts. SDC Part 1 is a part-time online course of approximately 100 hours delivered while participants are in their home country, commencing in August.

Online learning is complemented by a two-week, in-person residential workshop to be held in Cambodia and Laos during SDC Part 1 for participants to meet their peers and teaching team, and to learn intensively. SDC Part 2 is a full-time, in-person course of 12 weeks which takes place in Aotearoa New Zealand, commencing in March the following year.

The Sustainable Development Course will enable participants to:

• explore the principles and practice of sustainable development in their home country and Aotearoa New Zealand
• apply systems thinking to understand complex development challenges
• develop skills in research and design thinking, and apply these to gain a deeper understanding of a specific development challenge
• understand how to achieve development goals in different ways, with a particular focus on participatory approaches
• apply learning on cross-cutting issues including human rights, gender and social inclusion, and environmental impact
• build the skills required to develop and manage a project, including proposal writing, project management and MERLA (monitoring, evaluation, research, learning and adaptation)
• improve their proficiency in English for professional and academic purposes

SDC Part 2 In New Zealand Will Include:

• exposure to a range of New Zealand institutions, policies and practices that are relevant to sustainable development, such as human rights, democratic processes, and community development, through classroom learning and field trips
• visits to governmental and civil society organisations, such as community development organisations, the Human Rights Commission and Parliament
• Māori approaches to development, introduction to Te Tiriti o Waitangi – the Treaty of Waitangi and the opportunity to stay on a marae (traditional Māori meeting ground)
• leadership skills workshops, such as organisational management and advocacy skills
• a schedule of visits with organisations addressing similar issues to participants’ development challenges, either individually or in small groups

English For Development Course

Participants develop their English language proficiency for professional and academic purposes through the English for Development course (EDC). The EDC runs alongside the Sustainable Development Course, commencing online in September and continuing in New Zealand.

The EDC course supports participation in the SDC by teaching:

• language specific to sustainable development
• formal English suitable for a professional context
• oral and written communications skills
• writing skills for reports and funding proposals
• study skills for more effective language learning

The online component of the English for Development course requires approximately 40 hours: 20 hours of online workshops and 20 hours self-study.

Action project implementation – Cambodia / Laos

Participants manage a small action project in their communities, which is funded subject to meeting certain criteria. The action project provides participants the chance to apply learning from the programme to address a specific development challenge in their community.

The action project takes place after SDC Part 2 once participants return to their home country. Participants will receive coaching and ongoing support from UnionAID and KFP / PAKA throughout this process.

Alumni network

• An alumni conference is held annually in Cambodia or Laos. The conference brings together alumni and newly selected participants to share learning and build long-term connections.
• Alumni also become part of the wider UnionAID young leaders network and can engage with their peers from the Myanmar, Indonesia and Mindanao (Philippines) Programmes.