Full Project Title: Passing the torch: Land Rights Now for Indigenous Youth
Implementer: Indigenous People’s Movement for Self Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), as Host, and Asia Young Indigenous Peoples Network (AYIPN)

Indigenous peoples for the longest time have experienced oppression as development in the guise of extractive industries has destroyed our ancestral territories. Across Asia, indigenous youth face challenges from discrimination and lack of culturally appropriate education in our own languages to environmental pollution and land grabbing of our territories in the name of development. Indigenous youth are called on to defend their rights as youth – by making their issues known to those in leadership roles – and as indigenous peoples, calling attention to self-governance, the importance of our values and traditions in the modern world, socioeconomic development and the protection and defense of ancestral land. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected indigenous peoples as clinics and hospitals are inaccessible. In education, as online learning is introduced, it has become difficult for families to afford gadgets and the internet to provide to their children. The difficulty for a strong signal is also lacking thus indigenous youth are not experiencing quality education. Transportation is limited and indigenous communities are located in remote areas. Yet the pandemic has also made many realize the importance of protecting nature which has been a part of indigenous culture. With this in mind, we, indigenous youth with our partners, are committed to the continuous protection, development and the defense of our land and rights for sustainable development – and our future. We are ready to take the torch of the Land Rights Now campaign. The main objective of “Passing the torch: Land Rights Now for Indigenous Youth” is to strengthen and shape the Land Rights Now campaign with more significant involvement of indigenous youth.

Specific objectives and activities we will carry out to achieve them are:
1) to amplify the voice of indigenous youth for their campaigns and advocacy: Capacity Building and Empowerment of Indigenous Youth: – Formal and informal education/training and exchanges to build leadership and organizational management skills to strengthen local organisations – A focus on young women to be leaders and transforming indigenous communities to decolonise and end patriarchy -Nonviolent Direct Action training so indigenous youth are equipped to mobilise communities Advocacy Campaigns: – Support and carry out national advocacy campaigns led by indigenous youth -Document, and revitalize traditional food systems and stewardship role of indigenous peoples as a means to reclaim health, culture and languages
2) to builda movement of indigenous youth across Asia and the globe to participate in and coordinate the Land Rights Now Campaign: Network Building – Build the power of indigenous youth by strengthening our network across Asia and deepen connections to other regions (linking to indigenous youth organisations signed up to the Land Rights Now campaign and others, encouraging them to join)
3) to build the capacity of indigenous youth to carry on and take over coordination of the Land Rights Now Campaign: – Join the coordination of the LandRightsNow campaign and shape public campaign actions at regional and global for the duration of the project and beyond.

Strengthening Indigenous Leadership for the Next Generation 

For generations, Indigenous communities in the Philippines, Cambodia, Malaysia, and India have fought to protect their land, rights, and way of life. But with growing threats—land grabbing, environmental destruction, and human rights violations—ensuring that Indigenous youth can continue this fight has never been more urgent. 

Through the Asia Young Indigenous Peoples Network (AYIPN), this project focused on empowering young Indigenous leaders to take action, build networks, and advocate for their communities on a larger scale. 

From leadership training and cultural exchanges to advocacy campaigns and global networking, Indigenous youth were not just learning about their rights—they were taking the lead in shaping the future. 

Building Indigenous Leadership for the Future 

A key milestone of this project was the election of new AYIPN leaders, a sign of growing confidence among young Indigenous advocates to take up leadership roles. This shift was made possible by: 

• Leadership and advocacy training, where young people learned about Indigenous governance, policy engagement, and organizational management. 

• Community-driven campaigns, where youth took the lead in documenting rights violations, advocating for land protections, and amplifying Indigenous voices in national and international platforms. 

• Intergenerational knowledge exchanges, ensuring that Indigenous elders could pass down traditional knowledge and legal strategies to the next generation. 

The International Indigenous Youth Conference (IIYC) further strengthened these efforts, creating a space for young leaders to collaborate on shared struggles and build international solidarity. 

From Learning to Action 

This project was not just about training—it was about putting knowledge into practice. In Cambodia, India, Malaysia, and the Philippines, Indigenous youth applied what they learned to real-world advocacy: 

• Campaigning for land rights and policy reforms at local and national levels. 

• Engaging with United Nations representatives and global donors to bring attention to Indigenous struggles. 

• Strengthening networks across Asia, ensuring that Indigenous youth movements remain connected beyond borders. 

As a result, more Indigenous youth are actively engaged in governance, leading advocacy initiatives, and defending their ancestral lands. 

Lessons Learned: Challenges and Opportunities 

One of the biggest takeaways from this project was that empowerment must go beyond training sessions—it needs to be rooted in real opportunities for leadership. The election of new AYIPN officers was a significant step, but sustaining their leadership requires continued support, funding, and recognition. 

Another key lesson was the importance of intergenerational learning. Elders played a crucial role in guiding young leaders and passing down Indigenous governance systems—a reminder that tradition and activism must go hand in hand. 

However, challenges remain. Government restrictions and political pressures made advocacy work difficult in some regions, and funding limitations meant that not all planned initiatives could be fully implemented. Despite these obstacles, the determination of Indigenous youth to continue organizing, advocating, and leading remains stronger than ever. 

What’s Next? Strengthening the Movement 

This project has proven that when Indigenous youth are given the tools, spaces, and networks to lead, they will step up and drive change. Moving forward, the focus will be on: 

• Strengthening mentorship programs between elders and youth. 

• Expanding policy engagement to ensure Indigenous concerns are reflected in national and international decision-making. 

• Building long-term financial sustainability for Indigenous youth-led initiatives. 

The fight for Indigenous rights is ongoing, but with a new generation of leaders at the forefront, the movement is stronger than ever. This project was not an endpoint—it was a beginning. A future led by Indigenous youth is already taking shape, and they are ready to make their voices heard.