Six Students Graduated From Greenpeace University Indonesia

Greenpeace, Thursday 3 september 2009, held a graduation ceremony for six students who are following the three-month Greenpeace University, the first training program for young environmental activists in Asia. The three-month Greenpeace University Program followed by six potential youngsters from all over Indonesia with diverse backgrounds.

Initially, Greenpeace University had opened opportunities for young people interested to join on June 15, 2009. Then, six students were selected received some training in the Office of Greenpeace Jakarta to make them as the proficient environmental campaigners.

"In the midst of the threat of growing climate change, the future of this planet depends on the success of efforts to stop the exploitation of the environment. We hope this program can contribute to the aspirations of these young people to become instruments of change," said Von Hernandez, Executive Director Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

The students have received training on all important aspects of the operations of Greenpeace, including campaigns, research, communication, action, and fundraising. The program is designed as a neat combination between theory and practice, combined with inputs from experts both internal and external, and engaged in real works. The students were then asked to develop their own campaign projects that can help Greenpeace actions in Indonesia.

"This program helped me to understand how to build an effective campaign and what is needed to support the campaign in the long run. I also learning a lot of how to maximize existing resources on Greenpeace and works with great potential that existed outside the organization," said Azzahra Hanifah, one of the graduates.

Greenpeace activities in Indonesia is part of global action to combat the worsening impacts of climate change. Greenpeace's Pressure in Indonesia is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions drastically.

Indonesia is the third largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, caused majorly by high rates of forest destruction, Indonesia also stated as one of the most vulnerable country affected by climate change such as rising sea levels, droughts, floods, and the failure of agriculture.