Indonesian Youth Wins Second Place in UNESCO x vivo Video Competition

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - A young Indonesian environmental design graduate has brought an Indonesian perspective on sustainability to the international stage, winning second place in the UNESCO x vivo video competition in Italy.

Pontianak-born Veldesen Yaputra received the award on September 10, 2026, after competing with 15 participants from 13 countries in a program exploring the relationship between people, local culture, economic activities and environmental change at the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine Biosphere Reserve.

Deputy Permanent Delegate of Indonesia to UNESCO I.G.A.K. Satrya Wibawa welcomed the achievement, saying it demonstrated the capacity of Indonesian youth to bring national perspectives to global forums.

"Veldesen's achievement is not only about winning an award, but also about how young Indonesians can bring our experiences, knowledge and perspectives into the global conversation on sustainability," Satrya said in a written statement on Monday, September 14, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Satrya emphasized that global challenges such as climate change require contributions from different countries, making the active involvement of young people on the international stage increasingly important.

Veldesen, who studied Environmental Design at Tsinghua University in China and focuses on sustainable architecture and green building, produced his video based on field research and cross-cultural experiences.

During four days of activities in Italy, he interacted directly with local residents, olive oil producers and environmental researchers to document the real impacts of climate change on local ecosystems.

According to Veldesen, farmers have begun experiencing changes in agricultural yields and plant growth cycles as climate conditions change.

His strongest experience came during a visit to the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine Biosphere Reserve. There, Veldesen saw trees that had dried out and lost their leaves. Based on conversations with local researchers, the changes were linked to changing environmental and climate conditions.

The experience gave him a new perspective on sustainability. Veldesen said environmental damage does not always occur because of direct human exploitation. Climate change can alter ecosystems even when direct human pressure is not immediately visible.

"The world is very fragile. Even without humans touching it, nature can change," Veldesen said.

In the video, which he produced using a smartphone, Veldesen combined three academic and geographical perspectives from his experiences in Indonesia, China and Italy.

The narrative approach and depth of the story earned him second place, despite his primary background not being in videography.

Through the achievement, Veldesen hopes more Indonesian youth will conduct environmental research, explore local adaptation practices and take an active role in international forums organized by the United Nations and UNESCO.

"We carry Indonesia's name. Wherever we experiment and learn, we remain Indonesian citizens. What we produce also represents Indonesia," he concluded.

The UNESCO x vivo video competition is a global youth storytelling initiative launched in 2026, inviting participants aged 18–35 to create short videos or photo stories about the relationship between people and nature in UNESCO biosphere reserves. It highlights sustainability, cultural heritage, and climate challenges, with winners selected at a co‑creation camp in Italy. ***