Youth Environment Living Labs (YELL)

Youth Environment Living Labs (YELL) is a collaborative programme between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF, supported by Amanah Lestari Alam (ALAM), European Union and OSK Foundation, designed to strengthen youth participation in environmental action, develop future sustainability leaders, and enhance youth employability in green sectors. The programme was established in 2022.

YELL engages youth across public and private tertiary institutions, as well as non-student youth communities nationwide, with the aim of building a strong ecosystem of environmental leaders through capacity building, evidence-based advocacy and practical exposure to sustainability-related skills and career pathways.

The programme fosters climate literacy, leadership development and cross-sector collaboration, while localising climate and environmental narratives by empowering youth to design and implement community-based environmental solutions that respond to local realities and challenges.

Since its inception, YELL has reached over 2.5 million youth nationwide, with more than 9,200 youth directly engaged through structured programmes, dialogues and initiatives. To date, over 50 youth-led and youth-focused initiatives have been supported under the YELL platform.

Through these efforts, YELL contributes to the development of a critical mass of youth environmental advocates who influence behavioural change, strengthen national sustainability ambition and improve employability through structured exposure to real-world sustainability challenges and emerging green sector opportunities.

ALAM Be-Leaf Programme

ALAM Be-Leaf is a youth-led environmental conservation programme that promotes youth volunteerism through tree planting and nature-based actions, with a focus on mangrove restoration, biodiversity protection, and climate action awareness. Established in 2022, the programme is designed to nurture a deeper connection between youth and nature, while cultivating a new generation of youth environmental champions.

The initiative actively engages young people in hands-on conservation activities, enabling them to experience nature directly and develop a sense of responsibility towards the protection and long-term stewardship of coastal and natural ecosystems.

Through tree planting, conservation education, and community engagement, ALAM Be-Leaf equips youth with both knowledge and practical skills in ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship to create a world leader. These experiences empower participants to take on leadership roles and advocate for sustainable practices within their communities.

To date, ALAM Be-Leaf has engaged over 4,000 youth volunteers nationwide, with more than 20,000 trees planted across 8 states in Malaysia, contributing to mangrove restoration, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience. ALAM Be-Leaf continues to strengthen youth participation in nature conservation while contributing to Malaysia’s broader biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainability goals.

National Young Reporters for the Environment (NYRE)

ALAM collaborated with Green Growth Asia Foundation as the main project lead in organizing the National Young Reporters for the Environment (NYRE) Malaysia initiative since 2023 to empower youth to engage in climate action.

The Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) programme, operated globally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), serves as an incubator for passionate young individuals who aspire to drive change for a sustainable tomorrow by leveraging on eco-journalism. The Malaysia edition adapts this global framework to local priorities and climate challenges.

It features workshops and competitions to develop critical and creative thinking processes to identify, review and advocate environmental issues that matter the most. It is a programme based on local and global climate change challenges, as well as creative media journalism, which provides opportunities for the Malaysian youth to voice out their environmental concerns through a series of diverse content creations such as photography, videography and article writing.

NYRE equips Malaysian youth with critical and creative thinking skills through workshops, capacity-building sessions, and national competitions, empowering them to identify and advocate key environmental issues. The programme enables youth to communicate environmental concerns and solutions through photography, videography, and writing, while strengthening environmental literacy and communication skills. To date, NYRE has reached over 15,000 primary and secondary school students nationwide, building early awareness and nurturing a pipeline of young environmental storytellers and advocates. The initiative consistently receives over 700 creative submissions annually, including written articles, photographs, videos, and podcasts, reflecting strong youth engagement and growing interest in environmental reporting and climate action in Malaysia.

ALAM Be-Lead

ALAM Be-Lead is a youth leadership development programme designed to build the capacity of young environmental leaders through structured training, experiential learning and multi-stakeholder engagement. The programme focuses on strengthening leadership skills, sustainability knowledge and practical competencies including financial inclusion, project management, cash flow management and proposal presentation which needed to drive environmental action and climate-related initiatives.

Launched in 2025, ALAM Be-Lead began with the involvement of 29 committed youth participants who demonstrate strong interest and dedication to nature conservation and sustainability leadership.

Through a combination of workshops, field exposure, and collaborative activities with partners from government, industry, and civil society, ALAM Be-Lead empowers youth to take on active roles in sustainability advocacy and community-based environmental solutions. The programme aims to cultivate a new generation of environmentally conscious leaders who are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and networks to contribute meaningfully to national sustainability agendas and support long-term environmental governance and action in Malaysia.

Tulips XP

ALAM collaborated with UNITAR International University and TULIPS Career XP School to pilot the Future Leaders in Sustainability Programme (FLSP). The programme is an environmental education initiative designed to equip selected B40 and lower M40 students with foundational knowledge in sustainability and environmental awareness.

FLSP aims to develop student leaders in sustainability by strengthening leadership skills, environmental literacy, and practical understanding of sustainability challenges. The programme also focuses on improving participants’ employability by preparing them for future roles in the green and sustainable economy.