Drawing from the framework used in various capacity-building workshops by the Youth Environment Living Labs (YELL), young people will benefit from developing the following skills:

1.    Advocacy & Communication: The ability to effectively communicate solutions and advocacy campaigns is crucial to meaningful participation and sustaining a strong youth-led movement. As advocacy initiatives often begin from addressing issues within local communities, young people need to equip themselves with fundamental advocacy and communication skills to strengthen their capacity in driving change.

2.    Climate & environmental literacy: As the Malay proverb goes, “Tak kenal, maka tak cinta” (We can't love what we don't know), awareness in local climate and environmental issues is the first step in activating youth action. Young people must know how to apply environmental knowledge learned in formal education to real-life situations. Thus, empowering educators is key to producing a generation of climate-conscious youth.

3.    Environmental rights: A clean and healthy environment is not a privilege, but a basic human right. To defend their right to a sustainable future, young people must be equipped with the knowledge of environmental justice and rights. This is particularly applicable to those who are most at risk, such as children, women and girls, and the Orang Asal.

4.    Legal & policy processes: Engaging with complex legal and policy processes will seem intimidating to young people who often have little to no platform to voice their thoughts. Therefore, an understanding of laws and policies that affect the issue at hand, as well as their rights, will ultimately improve youth participation. Additionally, child and youth-friendly spaces must be created to meaningfully engage and empower their participation in policymaking, decision-making and environmental actions at all levels.

5.    Networking & collaboration: Working in silos will not lead to effective problem-solving mechanisms nor productive outcomes. Developing networking and collaboration skills can empower young people to tap into opportunities they might not discover on their own, connect with individuals who can provide advice or new perspectives, and engage with others who possess valuable skills. Through these diverse resources, young people can gain the right knowledge, develop practical skills, and build a strong support system in their climate action efforts.