For the next few months, the only news that mattered in Indonesia, and probably around the world, was the mega Aceh Earthquake and Tsunami disaster, which that had claimed the lives of 230,000 people across multiple countries, including 100,000 of them in Aceh. It was a global grief moment.

This report, “Advocates for Change: Asia Pacific Children and Youth’s Voices & Perspectives on Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction”, is the result of the collaboration between partners from different development organizations. This project commenced in May 2024 and culminated in the launch of the report in October 2024 by the Asia Pacific Coalition for School Safety (APCSS).

Explore Indonesia’s natural wonders and vibrant culture.

Disasters pose a substantial and growing threat to children and youth's well-being, and climate change is a rising threat to the environment and livelihood, including the survival and well-being of future generations. However, children and youth continue to be on the frontlines in combating climate change and building resilience in their communities. There have been consultative and robust research on child-centred risk reduction and school safety developed globally and in Asia-Pacific. Drawing from the findings, we highlight young people’s voices and perspectives in urging governments, DRR partners, and practitioners to undertake the following actions in line with the underlying goals of the 10th APMCDRR.

Effective Social and Behaviour Change for Nutrition in South Asia and the Pacific 2024

With the introduction of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, World Vision in Indonesia has taken collaborative and bold steps with the government of Indonesia and other development partners to actively work toward achieving the ambitious targets for universal and equitable access to WASH services for all by 2030. World Vision supports government ministries to develop policies, national guidelines, and other WASH-related learning modules and tools, as well as facilitating advocacy events and trainings to improve WASH access.' Given sector-wide challenges with the long-term functionality of rural and small-town water supply services, World Vision has doubled-down on strengthening management systems. World Vision, with a focus on sustainability, empowers, trains, and strengthens water committees in matters of community organization and participation, administration (payment of fees), operation and maintenance of the water systems, and protection of microwatersheds, with the objective that the water committee will manage, operate, and maintain the water systems independently.

Responding to children’s urgent call for climate justice, World Vision has developed the first organisation-wide Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action (ESCA) Strategic Roadmap. World Vision completed the first stocktake of ESCA -related programmes implemented during financial years 2023-24 across 69 countries.

Each year, one billion children suffer from violence, losing their innocence and bearing lifelong scars. Despite government promises to end this violence, progress is inconsistent, with some areas regressing. A new report highlights the current state of policy commitments in 21 countries, revealing that no country has done enough to end violence against children by 2030. While some countries have outlawed violence, enforcement is lacking, and loopholes remain. West Africa, in particular, shows minimal progress and high rates of child marriage and labor.