Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme jointly organized Conference on “South-South Knowledge Exchange on Youth Volunteering for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Sharing SEP and Other Approaches from ASEAN Countries”. This conference will be held from 20-23 June 2017 in Bangkok.

          TICA and UNV have been cooperating with ASEAN member countries to promote South-South volunteerism as a key modality to tackle youth development challenges and harness the opportunities created by engaging ASEAN youth.

          As chair of the Group of 77 for 2016, Thailand had worked with G77 members and development partners to strengthen South – South Cooperation and share its home-grown approach based on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) to promote sustainable development. Through the framework of SEP, which was developed by His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand has been promoting people-centered development and resilience that align with the SDGs and resonate with volunteerism’s core values of mutuality and solidarity. Youth volunteering in SEP projects is recognized as an important channel for Thai youth to develop human and social capital and harness their energy, skills, and innovative thinking for sustainable development.

          With the focus on youth volunteering through the framework of South-South Cooperation, the conference brings together more than 100 representatives from ASEAN member countries, volunteer-involving organizations, academics, and UN entities to share best practices and identify challenges and opportunities for volunteerism to become a driving force for sustainable development across the ASEAN region and beyond.

          Along with plenary sessions, moderated panel discussions and small group discussions, the four-day conference includes a story-sharing session from volunteers, and a field visit to share best practices and lessons learned in developing and implementing volunteer programmes and initiatives. Thirty young volunteer innovators from ASEAN countries, who were selected to participate in the “IMPACT ASEAN Youth Volunteering Innovation Challenge,” will also present their projects to leverage volunteerism to achieve SDGs in their countries.