During the 2026 summer break, 212 ASEZ university students formed 46 teams and carried out activities in 32 countries, working with local communities around the world to create sustainable change. The students engaged in environmental protection, crime prevention, community service, and awareness-raising activities, while also meeting with international organizations, government agencies, local governments, universities, police departments, public institutions, and other stakeholders to explore ways to work together in addressing local challenges.
The activities focused on identifying the needs of each community and carrying out initiatives suited to local conditions. Through projects such as Reduce Crime Together (RCT), Zero Plastic 2040, the ASEZ Green Carbon (AGC) Movement, and the ASEZ Blue Carbon (ABC) Movement, ASEZ participated in environmental protection and efforts to build safer communities. By enabling young people to take part directly in sustainable development within their communities and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, these efforts also contribute to the local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
University students around the world put this approach into practice through activities tailored to the needs of their respective communities. In Tlalnepantla de Baz, Mexico, university students held a Zero Plastic 2040 panel campaign to raise awareness of plastic pollution, followed by a tree-planting activity with the Municipal Youth Institute of Tlalnepantla de Baz, involving 32 participants. In South Africa, students planted trees to help expand urban green spaces and restore local ecosystems. In Medan, Indonesia, 51 people participated in a Zero Plastic 2040 seminar held at Universitas Prima Indonesia. This was followed by a roadside cleanup conducted in cooperation with the Medan Petisah District Office, with 60 participants. Local institutions also showed interest in ASEZ’s continued environmental efforts, which have gone beyond one-time events. In recognition of these activities, the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of North Sumatra Province presented ASEZ with a certificate of appreciation.
Crime prevention activities aimed at creating safer and more inclusive communities were also carried out. At Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA) in La Paz, Bolivia, 69 people participated in a crime prevention seminar. University officials expressed their support for the initiative, which gave young people an opportunity to discuss crime prevention and community safety, and presented ASEZ with a certificate of appreciation.
In Urdaneta, the Philippines, 240 people participated in an RCT forum to discuss roles in crime prevention and the creation of safer communities. In Sri Lanka, RCT education programs and cleanup activities were carried out at schools and within local communities. In Galle, 48 people participated in a community cleanup. Environmental improvement activities were also held in other regions, including street cleanups involving 57 participants in Agoo, the Philippines, and 56 participants near the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila.
Over the course of approximately three weeks, a total of 36 volunteer activities and events were held. One distinguishing feature of the summer activities was that ASEZ did not apply the same program everywhere. Instead, the activities varied according to local needs, addressing issues such as environmental pollution, urban environments, ecosystem restoration, and crime prevention. The initiatives that began on the ground led to cooperation with international organizations, governments, local authorities, educational institutions, and other organizations. During the summer activities, ASEZ held a total of 87 meetings to discuss environmental and social issues in each region, as well as ways to expand youth participation.
In Peru, ASEZ introduced its environmental and crime prevention initiatives to representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Peru and the Congress of the Republic of Peru, and discussed future cooperation and the possibility of signing MOUs. In Spain, ASEZ exchanged views on youth participation and environmental activities with representatives of Madrid City Council and the Committee on Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge of the Congress of Deputies. In Kenya, representatives of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and the Nairobi City County Government also expressed interest in ASEZ’s activities and showed their support for the ABC Movement.
Agencies affiliated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Philippines expressed their willingness to actively cooperate in future environmental protection activities and presented ASEZ with certificates of appreciation. The Department of Education in Urdaneta expressed its hope for a continued partnership and directly introduced local schools for future cooperation. The County Government of Mombasa in Kenya and Dallas County in the United States also discussed possibilities for cooperation in future activities, forums, and conferences.
Support for ASEZ’s major projects also continued from various sectors. During the summer activities, a total of 190 signatures of support were received for initiatives related to crime prevention, plastic pollution, global environmental restoration, blue carbon, and the implementation of the SDGs. Those who expressed support included central and local government officials, mayors, city council members, environmental officials, police officers, university representatives, and educators. Many of them expressed support for ASEZ’s activities, recognizing the significance of young people directly addressing local issues such as environmental protection and community safety. In some cases, the discussions went beyond signatures of support and developed into conversations about follow-up activities and institutional cooperation.
Formal cooperation and recognition also continued. In India, ASEZ signed a total of five MOUs with universities and related institutions, establishing a foundation for continued cooperation in environmental protection and youth participation.
During the summer activities, ASEZ received a total of 13 certificates and plaques of appreciation. Organizations expressing their appreciation included Universitas Prima Indonesia; the Medan Petisah Subdistrict Office; the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of North Sumatra Province in Indonesia; Universidad Mayor de San Andrés in Bolivia; the Directorate of Environmental Sustainability of the Municipality of Tlalnepantla de Baz in Mexico; agencies affiliated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Barangay 630 in Manila, the Philippines; Vidya Jyothi Institute of Technology in India; and Miraki ENT International Hospital in India.
Although the numbers and locations varied, the underlying goal was the same: young people identifying problems in their communities, taking action themselves, and working with institutions and citizens to create sustainable change. Cleanups and tree planting contribute to sustainable cities and ecosystem restoration; efforts to reduce plastic pollution promote sustainable consumption and environmental protection; and crime prevention activities help create safer and more inclusive communities. Although the activities differ, they share a common purpose—enabling young people to understand local challenges firsthand and take part in solving them.
The UN 2030 Agenda emphasizes the important role of young people as partners in building a sustainable society. ASEZ will continue to link the voluntary efforts of university students to collaboration with governments, local authorities, universities, public institutions, and civil society, while carrying out initiatives tailored to the needs of each community.
