This June, 23 next-gen leaders, from across Southeast Asia meet to build skills and relationships to collaborate with faith communities in the protection of the environment. .
The International Dialogue Centre — KAICIID will bring together 23 young leaders, mentors and dialogue facilitators for a regional training on youth leadership, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and collaborative climate action. In partnership with the Institute of Buddhist Management for Happiness and Peace (IBHAP) Foundation, ‘Dialogue in Action: Strengthening Youth Leadership and Skills in Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue for Climate Action in Southeast Asia’, will take place from 09–15 June 2026 through collaboration with the Caravanserai Collective.
With climate and environmental pressures increasingly calling for locally grounded and community-driver solutions, young people and faith communities are among the region's most valid and committed actors to tackle that. Young people bring drive, urgency and innovation, while religious leaders and institutions bring trust and reach deep within communities. Brought together through harnessing the power of storytelling, these two groups can turn shared concern into collective stories that move cities into sustained action.
From conversation to collaboration
For over one week, participants will draw on KAICIID's and the Caravanserai Collective's distinctive approach to storytelling for dialogue. This method allows for participants to learn to use their personal narrative as a tool for building trust across faiths, cultures and generations. With environmental protection offering a shared, non-contentious entry point for cooperation, the programme is designed to help participants find common story and translate it real concrete projects.
The training builds on the existing commitment of change-makers to the protection of the environment, equipping them to design and implement joint initiatives with faith communities. Participants will take part in storytelling labs, action-planning sessions, mentor exchanges and site activities, and will leave with the connections and skills to carry climate action forward at home.
Climate action begins with the choices we make together. Young people are already making those choices. By creating a learning space between them and faithbased communities, they can extend their reach to more traditional communities and inspire action across different communities. In Southeast Asia, we at KAICIID are already seeing a growing ecosystem of dialogue amongst young people. Our responsibility is to strengthen this space, so through interreligious and intercultural dialogue they can have the skills to inspire others and co-create solutions for a more harmonious society across the region.
— Ambassador António de Almeida Ribeiro, Acting Secretary General, KAICIID
Part of a wider regional effort
The Bangkok training is part of KAICIID's wider work to strengthen the regional ecosystem of youth dialogue practitioners across Southeast Asia. By supporting young leaders in designing and implementing joint initiatives for the protection of the environment, KAICIID is investing in developing shared values, empathy and understanding while promoting social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.
About the partners
Institute of Buddhist Management for Happiness and Peace (IBHAP) Foundation
Based in Bangkok, the IBHAP Foundation connects Buddhist principles with the Sustainable Development Goals, working across public, private and civil-society sectors to advance sustainable development and peaceful, happy societies.
About the supporters
The Caravanserai Collective uses storytelling and dialogue through its CERITA programme to strengthen social cohesion and bring communities closer together across Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia.