This Y-Farm Camp assumes that younger generations (especially youth) in the Lower Mekong Subregion are aware of, and perhaps experienced with, sustainable agriculture activities, particularly since this region is facing serious development-related impacts (hydropower dams, irrigation development projects, etc.) and climate change phenomena. 

The idea behind the  4th Y-Farm Camp is that we apply the socioecological systems framework and related interactions to analyze how the Mekong’s younger generation (youth, students, young researchers, farmers, etc.) engage institutions to interact with sustainable agriculture in their communities, networks, schools, etc. 

Relating to the socioecological systems framework, the Y-Farm Network is based on our members sharing relevant topics on the dimensions of (i) agroecology, (ii) food sovereignty and farmers’ movements, (iii) agribusiness management and marketing, (iv)  community tourism, (v) local seeds, (vi) volunteerism, (vii) urban farming, (viii) sustainable farming, and (ix) climate change. To accomplish this initiative, we selected five farms that represent social groups and sustainable agriculture systems to see the differences and sameness among individuals, groups, and farm functions.

This initiative would like:

• to empower youth and young farmers in sustainable farming activities
• to gather young farmers, students, local authorities, researchers, and experts across Mekong Communities plus to share and learn their experiences and knowledge about sustainable farming and development;
• to build strong and effective young farming network in the Mekong Region in order to support and exchange each other/together; 
• to make/suggest the changes for future perspectives on youth development and sustainable farming across Mekong Communities.

This project would like globally to set the basis for future actions in order to improve sustainable agriculture activities in their communities and region as well as building strong network, ie 

• to generate new initiatives on sustainable farming, agro-tourism, agroecological services and new entrepreneurship at farm level, national or regional level inside the youth communities  
• create networking relations and continuous exchanges between young participants (young farmers, students, researchers, local authorities, and experts) for working together in the future on Sustainable Farming in Mekong countries;
• improve economic opportunities, maintain local culture across Mekong region and ecosystems.

We specifically aim to include thirty to thirty-five participants with varying backgrounds, ages, sexual orientations, and geographic locations. We specifically target: LGBT individuals; female;  male. About 20 local participants from Vientiane Capital and Vientiane province are the target indirect participants. 

We select the participants through voluntary application. Participants should be farmers, working actively on agroecology practices (organic, permaculture….) from Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos. They should be less than 35. They don’t need to be English or Lao speakers. Young Translators participants will accompany the group .

We would evenly split females into age groups, including middle-aged, elderly, and young farmers; students; people from various backgrounds; and residents of the community and region. We would equally split males into groups according to age: middle-aged, old, and young farmers; students; people from various origins; and residents of the community and region. In addition, we aim to highlight the diversity by focusing on various ethnicities within ASEAN communities as well as those outside the area.

The camp is led by a regional coordination team, supported by local partners in Laos with strong community and institutional reach:

• Ly  Quoc Dang — Founder, Y-Farm, and lecturer, Can Tho University (Vietnam)
• Hongnapha Phommabouth — Y-Farm Coordinator (Laos)
• Truong Hong Suong — Y-Farm Coordinator and Co-Founder, Elli Garden (Vietnam)
• Tanya Limkhumduang (Promburom) — Y-Farm Coordinator and Researcher, Chiang Mai University (Thailand)
• Jaruwan Supolrai — Mekong Nomad Farm and Co-Founder, Issan Y-Farm Network (Thailand)
• Le Thanh Tung — Founder, Adtado DigitalHub, Digital Marketing Agency (Vietnam)
• Myo Min Latt — Myanmar Y-Farm Coordinator (Myanmar)
• Panha Yem — Cambodia Y-Farm Coordinator (Cambodia)
• Thipphaphone Souphida — Samdhana Institute (Laos)
• Tadam Phommakod — Y-Farm Lao Assistant (Laos)
• Vanna Chomsavanh — Co-Founder, Association for Promoting Learning and Skills Development for Youth in Community (APLSY)
• Phathida Latsavong — Financial Officer, APLSY
• Phonsavanh — Co-Founder, Banjieng Organic Farm (Laos)
• Samphanh Lathsakid — GRET–ALiSEA Web Content Manager (Laos)
• Soutima Boudvised — PAKA / ALiSEA National Secretary, Lao PDR
• Phoutmany Thammavong — Y-Farm Assistant (Laos)