Filipino Youth Leader Named 2024 Asia-Pacific Ambassador

• John Isidore Laure, a monitoring, evaluation, and learning officer at a non-governmental organization in Cotabato City, Philippines, works to empower youth in local government.
• His work focuses on strengthening youth councils and addressing challenges such as violent extremism and misinformation.
• John's participation in the 2024 UNITAR Youth Ambassador Asia Pacific Programme (YAAP) helped him to refine his project to empower young public officials.
• He emphasizes the importance of youth as drivers of change and calls for more opportunities to amplify their voices globally.

20 February 2025, Hiroshima, Japan - John Isidore Laure, a youth advocate from Cotabato City, Philippines, currently serves as a monitoring, evaluation and learning officer at a local non-governmental organization (NGO), where he works with local youth councils (Sangguniang Kabataan) to promote good governance and community development. As a teenager, he co-established an organization to prevent violent extremism and misinformation in his community. This experience shaped his commitment to empowering young people and addressing pressing social issues.

In 2017, an armed confrontation erupted between government forces and militants in Marawi in the southern Philippines. The violence lasted for 5 months, displacing 98 per cent of the city's population and causing civilian deaths and massive destruction of civilian infrastructure.

The Marawi siege highlighted for John the vulnerability of young people to extremist ideologies and inspired him and his peers to establish an organization to train students to responsibly use social media and combat fake news. His aim was to pass on the lessons from the crisis to other students and make peacebuilding a lasting advocacy. This work laid the foundation for John's current NGO role, where he continues to champion youth empowerment.

John joined the 2024 UNITAR Youth Ambassador Asia Pacific programme conducted by UNITAR and ITS Education Asia. With the theme "Local Solutions for Global Challenges: Youth Empowerment and Community Impact", the programme sought to deepen young leaders' understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthen their entrepreneurship skills and help them develop ideas to address community problems.

Initially hesitant due to the programme's cost, John was thrilled when a private sector organization offered to cover the fees. During the 10-week programme, John connected with young changemakers from across the Asia-Pacific region, gaining insights into pressing social issues and innovative solutions. His cohort developed their individual projects and honed their skills in project pitching and presenting - skills that John deems crucial for securing funding and partnerships.

In the pitch competition at the end of the programme, John won the best presentation award for his presentation on his year-long initiative to strengthen the capacity of youth councils in Cotabato City. Ending in July 2024, the initiative trained over 50 young leaders in capacity-building, campaign development and movement-based advocacy. It aimed to equip young public officials with the skills to run effective campaigns and deliver meaningful services to their communities.

The project received positive feedback, with participants expressing a desire for another run to further its impact. John hopes to secure funding and partnerships to expand the initiative applying the skills and knowledge he gained as a UNITAR Youth Ambassador.

Meeting fellow youth ambassadors showed me that no community is perfect, but together, we can find solutions." -John Isidore Laure, UNITAR programme alumnus (Philippines)

From limited resources to societal scepticism, youth often encounter obstacles that can discourage them from taking action. However, John's resilience and determination demonstrate that these challenges can be overcome with passion, collaboration and a clear vision.

As youth, we have limited time. Our age is moving forward, so do not miss an opportunity. If you want to accomplish something, give it a try." -John Isidore Laure, UNITAR programme alumnus (Philippines)

John's message to young people is clear: anyone and everyone can make a difference. His experience as a UNITAR Youth Ambassador reinforced his belief that youth are key drivers of change. "We are not just youth … we are capable of making a difference", he says.

In a world where young people are increasingly taking the lead in addressing global issues such as climate change, social inequality and political instability, John encourages youth to pursue their passions, seek support from others and never underestimate their potential to create change.

His advocacy for more accessible and inclusive programmes for youth - like the UNITAR Youth Ambassador programme that provides young people like him the tools and inspiration to continue their work - reflects a broader call to invest in youth development and create enabling environments where young people can flourish.

Every idea matters, and every effort counts. Together, we can build a future where youth are at the forefront of positive change." -John Isidore Laure, UNITAR programme alumnus (Philippines)