BANGKOK, 9 AUGUST 2024 – Joachim Sebastian Ridulme and Carmella Gabriel, students from the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and School of Economics respectively, paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes on 6 August 2024.

The students were in Bangkok to participate in the 12th University Scholars Leadership Symposium (USLS) from 6-9 August, representing their non-governmental organization Project Blue PH. Their participation is focused on sharing experiences and insights based on the work and impact of their affiliated NGO in the Philippines.

With the slogan "More than Cleanups," Project Blue PH is a youth-led nonprofit focused on going beyond cleanups for proactive water communities, developing sustainable solutions through a circular economy approach to address ocean pollution.

The discussion focused on the advocacy of the students, the projects and activities of Project Blue PH and how their participation in the USLS can further enable them to achieve their NGO’s mission. The Ambassador shared with the students her views on leadership and relevant experiences, and encouraged the students to bring back, apply and share their learnings to maximize the impact of their participation in the symposium.

USLS is an annual event hosted by Humanitarian Affairs Asia, aiming to equip participants with the tools and confidence to tackle the most pressing issues and gather insights and perspectives from youth leaders across UN Member States. The program includes engaging UN workshops and inspiring talks by real-life change-makers. END