IPEN’s vision for a toxics-free future includes a concern for future generations and is founded on the contributions of young people. IPEN recognizes the invaluable role that youth can and do play in promoting sound chemical and waste management. We recognizes their unique contribution as agents of change and rights’ holders, and value their special characteristics that can contribute to resolving chemical and waste problems, including their capacity for creativity and innovation, their dedication and energy, and their ability to raise awareness and change behavior through their advocacy, mobilization of their peers, and networking.

IPEN has always engaged with a diverse range of stakeholders both within and outside our
Network members. Some youth-led partnerships and young leaders are already part of our growing network and several IPEN participating organizations are working to engage in initiatives that target young people. However, much more needs to be done. We intend to substantially increase and deepen our involvement with youth organizations as our youth caucus gains momentum.

History of the IPEN Youth Caucus

At the 2020 IPEN Global Meeting in Ethiopia, a group of young people came together with the idea to create an IPEN Youth Caucus. The initiative was then led by our colleagues, Benson, Kwame, Giulia and Joe who paved the way to create the caucus. The IPEN Steering Committee officially approved the IPEN Youth Caucus in 2021.

IPEN Youth Caucus Objectives

The objective of the IPEN Youth Caucus is to provide an overarching framework to guide IPEN and its network’s engagement with young people, youth organizations, and young professionals and to empower them to become agents of change in their respective communities.

Interested in Joining the IPEN Youth Caucus?

Your organization must be an IPEN Participating Organization (PO), you can find more information on joining IPEN here. Any youth (under 35 years old) within an IPEN PO may apply to join the youth caucus by reaching out to their IPEN Regional Coordinator

Youth Caucus Structure and Leadership

IPEN Youth Caucus Co-Chairs (2023-2026)

In 2023, Sonia Buftheim, Senior Toxics Program Officer with the Nexus for Environment, Health, and Development (Nexus3 Foundation), Indonesia, and Stanley Okwara a Research Associate with Centre for Earth Works, (CFEW), Plateau State, Nigeria were appointed as the first IPEN Youth Co-chairs.

Newsletters, Social Media, and Email

Subscribe to our Youth Caucus Newsletter
Read our most recent newsletter.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ipen.youth
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IpenYouth
Email: youthcaucus@ipen.org