PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - British Council Indonesia and Bank HSBC Indonesia announced a two-year collaboration program focusing on climate skills entitled "Climate Skills: Seeds for Transitions Indonesia".

This program aims to encourage the young generation in West Java to lead innovation in overcoming climate change and achieving sustainable development goals.

The launch of this program took place at the Vocational and Productivity Training Center (BPVP), West Bandung Regency, Wednesday (29/5/2024)

This program targets young people aged between 18 to 30 years throughout West Java, who will be equipped with technical and interpersonal skills. This program will introduce them to a green mindset and teach them important environmental skills to address local issues and create new job opportunities.

“This partnership is an important step to build a resilient and sustainable future together. "By investing in the skills and abilities of young people in Indonesia today, we are not only shaping a better future but also encouraging a more inclusive and just society," said British Council Director for Indonesia and Southeast Asia Summer Xia.

CEO of HSBC Indonesia Francois de Maricourt said, his party welcomed the collaboration with the British Council in this philanthropic project to help equip young Indonesians with practical climate-based skills as part of our aspirations to build a more sustainable, resilient and prosperous future.

He said, Program implementation began at the beginning of this month with intensive training sessions for trainers, preparing 30 core facilitators to guide young people in eight regions in West Java. The facilitator in charge of training the first group is currently holding a training session for 25 participants from the Greater Bandung area.

British Ambassador to Indonesia Dominic Jermey said, in line with the 75th anniversary of British-Indonesian diplomatic relations this year, this program is an example of increasingly close collaboration between the people of Indonesia and the UK. By equipping young people with climate skills and knowledge, we are cultivating a generation capable of leading us towards a greener and more sustainable future.

Head of the West Java Province Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) Iendra Sofyan said, Since 2018 the British Council has been a strategic partner of the West Java Provincial Government in various programs, including English Language Training for ulama in the English For Ulama Program. This collaboration shows the British Council's commitment to increasing human resource capacity in West Java to become more competitive on a global scale.

Iendra said, "Currently the West Java Provincial Government is in the process of renewing a memorandum of understanding to expand the scope of cooperation, including in the arts and creative industries, increasing technical capacity for public officials, professional English language training, and economic empowerment training for people with disabilities."

"We hope that through this program, young people in West Java will not only have the skills to overcome climate change, but also become agents of change who are able to have a positive impact on society," he said.

"This program is a very important and relevant initiative, specifically in overcoming the very evident and urgent challenge of climate change, as we know, the impact of climate change is not only on the environment but also social and economic aspects. "Therefore, concrete and collaborative action is needed to overcome and adapt to these changes," he said.

With a spirit of innovation and collaboration, West Java will always be a leading province in Indonesia committed to supporting every positive global initiative for young people, including climate skills programs.