Circular Cities Asia

Meet the mentors for our Circular Enterprise Programme incubation!

🫙 Prashant Sharma will be working with team Dam-Verse from JKLU in India as they work on conservation efforts and the restoration of natural bird habitats in their community.

🏢 Khamile Sabas will mentor team AgriKasanag from USTP in the Philippines who are working on diverting organic waste from landfill in their local public market in the Municipality of Claveria.

📱 Jonathan Co has been matched with team Greencircle from UP Diliman, Philippines. The UP students are testing kinetic to electrical pavement tile units to power and light up low level street lamps on campus.

Many thanks to Prashant, Khamile and Jonathan for responding to the call for mentors. It’s great to have all of you on board to support the student teams as they develop their circular solutions!

To learn more about the incubation, visit our website. 💡This year's challenge statement was: "How can we use circular economy innovation to increase the health and enjoyment of public spaces?"

🎉 Our incubation is in full swing with 3 new teams! We’re excited to be working with teams from JK Lakshmipat University, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines and UP Diliman!

During the 3-month incubation, the teams receive support to develop and test their circular business ideas. Our co-incubation model gives teams the opportunity to access facilities, resources and academic guidance on their campus, while also receiving mentoring and coaching support from Circular Cities Asia and other industry experts.

📍 This year, students addressed the challenge: How can we use circular economy innovation to increase the health and enjoyment of public spaces?

See more at our website (link in bio)

🎉 We are excited to announce the winners of our first Circular Stories Programme!

🌟 Our participants have worked through the Circular Stories Toolkit, immersed themselves in their local environment and connected with their local stakeholders. We learnt so much from our entrants about their communities and local circular economy heroes. We received story pitches for many different formats, including investigative articles, infographics, blog posts, podcasts and video documentaries.

♻️ The theme for the programme is: How might we inspire a transition to a circular economy in local communities by telling the stories of local heroes and innovations?

👏 A massive round of applause goes out to the winners Noelle Anne Cubacub, Vu Hong Minh Thao (and the team from RMIT University Vietnam , Vệ Giang Trần , Duong Hoang, Tran Thi Phuong Thy), Joshua Mendoza, Lady Kyla Balibagoso (Central Philippine University - CPU), Kyla Presmei Ciubal Depakakibo (University of San Agustin)

We are looking forward to telling you more about the student ideas, and publishing their final produced work!

Call for volunteer mentors!!

Are you looking for an opportunity to share your skills and experience with the next generation of circular economy entrepreneurs?

Circular Cities Asia is currently looking for mentors to support the student teams who will take part in our 3-month virtual incubation from the beginning of August to the end of October 2024.

During the incubation, the teams will work on developing the circular ideas that they pitched during our Circular Enterprise Programme innovation competition.

The innovation challenge for the competition was: How can we use circular economy innovation to increase the health and enjoyment of public spaces?

We’re looking for mentors with knowledge in environmental/social impact, circular economy, entrepreneurship and/or innovation.

Mentors will be able to commit 1 hour per month to attend VIRTUAL meetings, for a total of 3 hours from August-October 2024.

We currently have one team in India and one team in the Philippines looking for mentorship!

Please find more info in the comments, and contact [email protected] to express your interest.

🌏 Our participating universities in India, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia have completed their pitch events!

🌟 Our students have worked through the Circular Cities Asia Innovation Toolkit, completed the workshops and journeyed through their ideation process.

♻️ This year, our programme theme was "How can we use circular economy innovation to increase the health and enjoyment of public spaces?"

👏 A massive round of applause goes out to the winners from JKLU, USTP and UP Diliman!

🎉 Congratulations all around to the universities and participants.

We are looking forward to telling you more about the student ideas that will be incubated over the next 3 months.

JK Lakshmipat University University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines UP Diliman

🌏 Our participating universities in India, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia have completed their pitch events!

🌟 Our students have worked through the Circular Cities Asia Innovation Toolkit, completed the workshops and journeyed through their ideation process.

♻️ This year, our programme theme was "How can we use circular economy innovation to increase the health and enjoyment of public spaces?"

👏 A massive round of applause goes out to the winners from JKLU, USTP and UP Diliman!

🎉 Congratulations all around to the universities and participants.

We are looking forward to telling you more about the student ideas that will be incubated over the next 3 months.

JK Lakshmipat University University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines UP Diliman

Our Circular Stories competition entries are now closed! 🌏 ✍

Thank you to all the participants who submitted their circular story ideas! We are excited to announce our finalists in the coming weeks. 🎉

This week, we share a quote from Trustee, Association of Young Environmental Journalists and Circular Stories Programme contributor, Dev Albao, about the role young people can play in climate storytelling:

“… young people have the distinctive ability and responsibility to help further climate action through storytelling. Stories have the power to move people, especially at a time when inspiration is needed.”

Remember, YOU have the power to inspire change through the power of your storytelling! 🌱 ✨

This is your final reminder to get your circular story idea submissions in!🌿💡

We have reached the last day to complete your idea for our Circular Stories Competition!

Back in May we launched this new programme because we wanted to take participants on an experiential learning journey to discover the principles of the circular economy and master the art of storytelling to amplify local voices of change and inspire others.

You have now completed this journey, and we are very excited to review your story ideas.

Please make sure you submit them by midnight in your timezone, Sunday 7 July.

Don't forget, the top five story pitches will also receive:
🏆An immersive workshop with experts, Lilly and Dev, to help produce their story
💰A financial completion prize ($350 NZD)
💻Publication across our media partner platforms

Only a few days to go to get your circular story idea submissions in!🌿💡

Don't forget, the top five story pitches will receive:
🏆An immersive workshop with experts to help produce their story
💰A financial completion prize ($350 NZD)
💻Publication across our media partner platforms

Entries can be submitted here >> https://tinyurl.com/5a36amn8

We had the pleasure of connecting with the esteemed Ludwig Federigan, from our media partner, The Manila Times this week and we love what Ludwig had to say about why climate storytelling is so important…

“Climate storytelling is important because we are shaping the future we long for and have not yet experienced. In order to do what the climate crisis demands of us, we have to find stories of a liveable future, stories of popular power, stories that motivate people to do what it takes to make the world we need. Perhaps we also need to become better critics and listeners, more careful about what we take in and who’s telling it, and what we believe and repeat, because stories can give power – or they can take it away.”

Are you ready to inspire change with the power of your storytelling?

Nine days to go for our programme participants to get their circular story idea submissions in!🌿💡

The Brainstorming Worksheet and Community Interviews Worksheet from the Programme Toolkit will be very useful in helping to develop your idea so don't forget to check them out here >> https://tinyurl.com/Circular-Stories-Toolkit 🔍

This week, we were excited to catch up with Karina Basrewan, News Anchor at SEA Today and Cofounder of our media partner, . 🤩 Here is what Karina had to say about the power of climate storytelling…

“The climate crisis is a global problem that affects everyone, and so we need to be able to package these narratives in a way that feels close to people; in a way that resonates and empathises with them. Climate storytelling is crucial to shape this narrative so that people feel encouraged to take action towards climate change, instead of feeling discouraged that the problem is too big for them to be part of the solution.”

Are you ready to inspire change through the power of your storytelling?

Great work to those who have submitted their story ideas already! We are thrilled to review them!🤩

For those still working on their idea for a circular story, just a reminder that submissions are due Sunday, July 7th, 11:59 PM PHT (GMT +8). You can enter by visiting https://forms.gle/bgchoxgGPAVkAyVj8.

📌Remember this is just an IDEA for a story not a fully completed story.

The top 5 story pitches will win:

🏆 A virtual workshop with Lilly Sedaghat and Dev Albao to help produce your story
💰 A small financial completion prize of $350 NZD
💻 Your completed story will be published across the platforms of our media partners

Speaking of media partners, we recently caught up with Bryan Yong from EcoCupid where he shared why he feels environmental storytelling is so important…“Climate change is a complex and vast issue. Storytelling has always been a means to interpret and convey challenging topics into something we can experience visually and audibly. It translates technical knowledge about climate change into emotional concepts that resonate with people.”

We couldn’t agree more!

If you would like to know more about our Circular Stories Programme head to https://www.circularcities.asia/circular-stories-programme.

Fantastic to see our director, Suzanna Pomeroy featured in the The World Financial Review “Power Influencers from Business and Academia" series! Suzanna shared Circular Cities Asia’s mission to empower young change-makers with circular economy education across Asia.

To partner with us contact [email protected]

You can read the article in full below.

Circular Economy: Where to Begin for a Sustainable Future - The World Financial Review Explore how to begin transitioning to a circular economy for a sustainable future. This article from The World Financial Review provides key strategies, benefits, and practical steps to implement circular economy principles in your business. Start making a positive impact today.

Stories do have a way of changing the world!

And now it’s time to share YOUR circular story idea with us for the chance to WIN!

Our webinars and activities in the Programme Toolkit and competition guidelines will give you all the tools you need to discover your own story idea.🌿💡

Don’t forget, the 5 top story pitches will win:
🏆An immersive workshop with experts to help produce your story
💰A small financial completion prize ($350 NZD); and
💻Your story will be published across the platforms of our media partners!

Visit https://www.circularcities.asia/circular-stories-programme for full programme details and to enter.

We were excited to deliver the second webinar in our Circular Stories Programme, "Discovering Your Story" with Suzanna Pomeroy and Lilly Sedaghat, late last week! 🌿

If you couldn’t join us live, that’s okay! You watch the recording here...https://tinyurl.com/3f8epssx and you can watch via Facebook Live by visiting https://tinyurl.com/3hwd7ur3.

Speaker, Lilly Sedaghat - a National Geographic Explorer, Multimedia Storyteller and Host of “Expedition: Earth” podcast - guides you on how to discover your story, what makes a good story pitch, and shares her own circular story. Don’t miss this one!

Are you up to Part Two of the Programme Toolkit yet? Check out pages 20 and 21 for the Brainstorming Activity >> https://tinyurl.com/Circular-Stories-Toolkit. It will be helpful as you start to develop your own story idea! 💡

A WEBINAR NOT TO MISS!

Only one day to go until the second Circular Stories webinar “Discovering Your Story”!

We are so excited for you to meet National Geographic Explorer, Multimedia Storyteller and Host of "Expedition: Earth" podcast, Lilly Sedaghat. 🤩 Lilly will help you to discover your story, teach you what makes a good story pitch, and share her first-hand experiences of storytelling through a circular economy lens leaving you with all the tools you need to create a pitch for your own circular story. 💡🌿

This is a rare opportunity to interact live with Lilly and ask your storytelling questions. An opportunity not to miss!

📌 Webinar #2 - Discovering your Story
🕛 Thursday 13 June, 12:00-1:00pm PHT (GMT +8)
💻 You can join via Zoom here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81155952128 (Meeting ID: 811 5595 2128) or via Facebook Live

The programme is open to young change makers aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia. Registration is FREE, if you would still like to take part, register here: https://forms.gle/EP4rDtJQhnsb3VwH6

https://tinyurl.com/Circular-Stories-Toolkit

Circular Stories Programme: Registration Form Welcome to the Circular Stories Programme! By shining a light on the positive stories within your community, you can inspire change towards a sustainable future. Through this programme we will show you how! This programme will show you how to submit a 'pitch' for a story in the format of your choice...

👉 Our Circular Stories Programme is in full swing!

Our participants are starting their storytelling journey by diving into part one of our toolkit - the discovery phase.

🔎 We have invited our young change makers to start investigating the places, materials and people that exist in their local context or surrounding areas.

This phase is about going on an immersive journey to learn more about the community that they decide to investigate, and to start identifying how circularity plays a part in neighbourhoods and traditions.

📖 In our Circular Stories Toolkit, we have included simple but effective tools to support this journey of discovery:

Place: Mapping Exercise
Materials: Waste Journal
People: Community Interviews

We are looking forward to seeing what our participants experience!

📌 The programme is open to young change makers aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia.

Registration is FREE, if you would still like to take part, register here: https://forms.gle/EP4rDtJQhnsb3VwH6

https://tinyurl.com/Circular-Stories-Toolkit

🎉 Our Circular Stories Programme kicked off yesterday with our introductory webinar!

We launched the programme with a presentation on our 'why' for the programme - that storytelling is a powerful tool for inspiring change!

Dev Albao gave an overview of our new toolkit, and how to journey through this programme in a safe and ethical way.

Roleen Sevillena gave us an introduction to the circular economy and showed us how we can see circular economy models are practised both in our everyday lives and in new and innovative technologies.

🔎 Participants will now start working through the toolkit, using the exercises to discover their local place, materials and people.

If you missed the webinar you can find the recording here! https://tinyurl.com/Webinar-One

🌟 At this end of the programme there is a competition to submit an idea for your story.

The five finalists selected from the story pitch competition will receive coaching to produce their story, have their story published and receive a financial completion prize!

📌 The programme is open to young change makers aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia.

Registration is FREE, if you would still like to take part, register here: https://forms.gle/EP4rDtJQhnsb3VwH6

📣 Media Partner Announcement! Thank you to AYEJ for partnering with us to publish the winning stories from our Circular Stories Programme!

Taking part in our programme presents the opportunity for your story to gain exposure across multiple platforms!

🌟The Association of Young Environmental Journalists (AYEJ) is a youth-led environmental non-profit working to engage and educate civil society on environmental sustainability through youth development and media training.

If you’re aged 18-25 and living in Southeast Asia, join us for a two-part online course where you will:

🌱EXPLORE: The transformative power of storytelling.
🌱LEARN: How to research and develop compelling story pitches.
🌱ENTER: Submit your story pitch into a competition.
🌱WIN: Earn the chance to have your idea selected for final production and receive a financial completion prize $.

Registration and participation is free. To learn more visit https://www.circularcities.asia/circular-stories-programme

Circular Stories Programme: Registration Form Welcome to the Circular Stories Programme! By shining a light on the positive stories within your community, you can inspire change towards a sustainable future. Through this programme we will show you how! This programme will show you how to submit a 'pitch' for a story in the format of your choice...

We are so excited by the response that we have had to our programme - we have decided to extend the registration period!

🎯QUICK! REGISTER TODAY!

Join us for an immersive learning journey to explore storytelling through a circular economy lens.

In a two-part online programme, participants will learn to craft narratives, amplify local circular innovations, and become catalysts for positive change.

📣AND YOU CAN WIN!

Enter our Circular Stories competition with your pitch for a story highlighting a circular economy initiative in your local community.

The 5 top story pitches will win:

📝An immersive workshop with experts to help produce your story
💰A financial completion prize
💻Your story will be published across the platforms of our media partners!

The programme is open to young change makers aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia.

Registration is FREE and HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 3 JUNE.

Visit https://www.circularcities.asia/circular-stories-programme to learn more.

Thank you to our media partners:

EcoCupid The Manila Times, AYEJ starts with SEA Ludwig O. Federigan

Circular Stories Programme: Registration Form Welcome to the Circular Stories Programme! By shining a light on the positive stories within your community, you can inspire change towards a sustainable future. Through this programme we will show you how! This programme will show you how to submit a 'pitch' for a story in the format of your choice...

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! 🌟

Join Suzanna Pomeroy, Roleen Sevillena, Dev Albao, and Lillygol Sedaghat as they take you on an immersive learning journey to explore sustainable storytelling. 💡🌿

In a two-part online programme, participants will learn to craft narratives, amplify local circular innovations, and become catalysts for positive change.

AND YOU CAN WIN! Enter our Circular Stories competition with your idea for a story highlighting a circular economy initiative in your local community.

The 5 top story pitches will win:
🏆 An immersive workshop with experts to help produce your story
💰 A small financial completion prize
📰 Your story will be published across the platforms of our media partners!

📌 The programme is open to young change makers aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia.

Registration is FREE and closes 31 May. Visit https://www.circularcities.asia/circular-stories-programme to learn more.


The Manila Times EcoCupid

Circular Stories Programme: Registration Form Welcome to the Circular Stories Programme! By shining a light on the positive stories within your community, you can inspire change towards a sustainable future. Through this programme we will show you how! This programme will show you how to submit a 'pitch' for a story in the format of your choice...

✨Exciting News! Our Circular Stories programme now offers EVEN MORE PERKS! 🌟

We are thrilled to announce that the esteemed Ludwig Federigan will be interviewing the five finalists of our Circular Stories competition for his “All About Choices” column in The Manila Times.

The top five story pitches will also receive:
🏆An immersive workshop with experts to help produce their story
💰A small financial completion prize
📰 Publication across our media partner platforms

This programme is open to young change makers aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia. Hurry! Registration closes on Friday, 31 May. Visit https://forms.gle/EP4rDtJQhnsb3VwH6 to register.

Circular Stories Programme: Registration Form Welcome to the Circular Stories Programme! By shining a light on the positive stories within your community, you can inspire change towards a sustainable future. Through this programme we will show you how! This programme will show you how to submit a 'pitch' for a story in the format of your choice...

📣 Media Partner Announcement! Thank you to 🌏 for partnering with us to publish the winning stories from our Circular Stories Programme!

🤝 Founded by Karina Basrewan (News Anchor at SEA Today News and Miss Earth Indonesia 2022) and Massimiliano Hasan (Impact Investor & Venture Builder), Climate Starts in SEA’s mission is to inspire people in Southeast Asia to take action on climate change and environmental degradation. We look forward to seeing our winning participants' stories shared across such an inspirational network!

🌟 In addition to publication, the five finalists selected from the story pitch competition will receive coaching to produce their story and a small financial completion prize!

📌 The programme is open to young change makers aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia.

Registration (https://forms.gle/gc5t8TsR9SyVZemF6) is FREE and closes 31 May. Visit https://lnkd.in/gbDNqWSE to learn more.

Circular Stories Programme: Registration Form Welcome to the Circular Stories Programme! By shining a light on the positive stories within your community, you can inspire change towards a sustainable future. Through this programme we will show you how! This programme will show you how to submit a 'pitch' for a story in the format of your choice...

Our comes with great perks!

Get ready to unleash your storytelling skills and dive into the world of environmental communications with Circular Stories!

Enter our Circular Stories competition with your idea for a story highlighting a circular economy initiative in your local community.

The 5 top story pitches will win:
🏆An immersive workshop with experts to help produce your story
💰A small financial completion prize
💡Your story will be published across the platforms of our media partners!

📌 The programme is open to young change makers aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia.

Registration is FREE and closes 31 May. Visit https://forms.gle/EP4rDtJQhnsb3VwH6 to register.

CIRCULAR STORIES PROGRAMME | Circular Cities Asia Our Circular Stories Programme aims to use the power of storytelling to raise awareness of the importance of circularity and the role that innovators, individuals and communities play in driving positive change.

📣 Media Partner Announcement! Thank you to EcoCupid for partnering with us to publish the winning stories from our Circular Stories Programme!

🤝 EcoCupid is an environmentalist-focused social network platform that curates inspirational projects and educational content through multilingual media. EcoCupid is your go-to platform for connecting with eco-projects in Southeast Asia and a fantastic platform to share the winning Circular Stories!

🌟 In addition to publication, the five finalists selected from the story pitch competition will receive coaching to produce their story and a small financial completion prize!

📌 The programme is open to young change makers aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia.

Registration is FREE and closes 31 May. Visit https://forms.gle/EP4rDtJQhnsb3VwH6 to register.

CIRCULAR STORIES PROGRAMME | Circular Cities Asia Our Circular Stories Programme aims to use the power of storytelling to raise awareness of the importance of circularity and the role that innovators, individuals and communities play in driving positive change.

📢 Big shout out to Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung(KAS)! As a think tank, KAS recognises the growing importance of access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and clean energy in a world of a dramatically changing climate. 🌦️

Their regional project, "Energy Security and Climate Change Asia-Pacific" responds to this challenge and aims to tackle climate change and energy security, among the biggest challenges for many Asian countries in the coming decades.

💰As the major funder of the Circular Cities Asia's programmes, the KAS Foundation's Regional Project Energy Security and Climate Change Asia-Pacific (RECAP) has helped us bring our vision of a sustainable future to life.

We are grateful for their support in working together towards a greener and more sustainable future.

Your story could make a difference! 🌟

Feature articles, podcasts, video, reels…stories come in all shapes and sizes, each with the power to positively impact the world and influence our decisions.

If you’re aged 18-25 and living in Southeast Asia, join us for a two-part online course where you will:
🌱EXPLORE: The transformative power of storytelling.
🌱LEARN: How to research and develop compelling story pitches.
🌱ENTER: Submit your story pitch into a competition.
🌱WIN: Earn the chance to have your idea selected for coaching and receive a small completion grant.

Registration is free and closes on 31 May. To learn more visit https://www.circularcities.asia/circular-stories-programme

Circular Stories Programme: Registration Form Welcome to the Circular Stories Programme! By shining a light on the positive stories within your community, you can inspire change towards a sustainable future. Through this programme we will show you how! This programme will show you how to submit a 'pitch' for a story in the format of your choice...

Meet Suzanna Pomeroy, Director of Circular Cities Asia! Join Suzanna and co-speakers, Lilly Sedaghat, Dev Albao and Roleen Sevillena as they take you on an immersive journey into the world of the circular economy and the power of storytelling to inspire change.

The Circular Stories Programme is open to young change makers aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia. Registration is free and closes 31 May.

Visit https://www.circularcities.asia/circular-stories-programme to learn more.

Introducing Roleen Sevillena, speaker for the upcoming Circular Stories programme! With her passion for responsible design as a vehicle for creating positive change, Roleen will guide participants through what makes a circular economy and why it can transform how we live.🍃

The program is open to young change makers aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia. Registration is free and closes 31 May. Visit https://www.circularcities.asia/circular-stories-programme to learn more.

Meet Dev Albao, Speaker for the Circular Stories Programme! Dev is an accomplished and passionate advocate for conservation, using storytelling and journalism to drive change. In this Programme, Dev will lead participants on an immersive learning journey, guiding them to explore their local environments, understand the concept of circularity within their own communities and more.🌿

If you're a young change maker aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia, don't miss out! Register for free before May 31 to secure your spot.

Introducing Lillygol Sedaghat, Speaker for the Circular Stories Programme! Lilly is a dedicated advocate of storytelling's transformative potential, guiding participants to harness the power of narratives for positive change.🌿 Join her as she shows how to amplify local voices and inspire action towards a sustainable future. 🌍

If you're a young change maker aged 18-25 in Southeast Asia, don't miss out! Register for free before May 31 to secure your spot.

Visit https://www.circularcities.asia/circular-stories-programme to learn more and register today.

Circular Stories Programme: Registration Form Welcome to the Circular Stories Programme! By shining a light on the positive stories within your community, you can inspire change towards a sustainable future. Through this programme we will show you how! This programme will show you how to submit a 'pitch' for a story in the format of your choice...