Michigan 4-H represented at 2025 Global Climate Summit and 5th Asia 4-H Network Conference
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EmailMSU Extension Senior Educator Janis Brinn represented Michigan 4-H at the 2025 Global Climate Summit and 5th Asia 4-H Network Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Late last year, I had the chance to reconnect with and strengthen relationships with some of my 4-H international partners at the 2025 Global Climate Summit and 5th Asia 4-H Network Conference held in Kathmandu, Nepa. Formerly known as the International Green Summit, this event was held November 23-27 and was a great opportunity to network, make new connections, present educational sessions and represent Michigan 4-H with our international partners.
Every three years, the Asia 4-H Network brings together members, leaders and professionals to network and share best practices, thereby strengthening the 4-H movement. Since its founding, the network has successfully conducted four previous summits, each hosted by a different 4-H nation with unique objectives. The Global 4-H Network was formed in 2014 at the first Global 4-H Network Summit held in South Korea. During that time, two representatives were elected from each region (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America), forming the board of directors and the signing of the Global 4-H Declaration.
I have had the privilege of attending two of these earlier 4-H Global Network Summits to represent Michigan 4-H and bring home new resources, educational opportunities, connections and friendships. The first was the second Global 4-H Network Summit that took place in Ontario, Canada, in 2017. The Michigan State University Extension article “Michigan represented at 2017 4-H Global Network Summit” shares how three MSU Extension staff represented Michigan 4-H at this event. The second summit that I attended was the third 4-H Global Network Summit, held in Arusha, Tanzania. This summit was the first opportunity that I had to present a session with another MSU Extension staff person. Learn more about that experience in the article, “Michigan 4-H represented at 2023 4-H Global Network Summit.”
In 2025, 4-H Nepal hosted the 5th edition of the summit with the theme of "Empowering Sustainable Futures Together." It aimed to bring global leaders to one platform to discuss key issues such as climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and agriculture, with a focus on youth leadership in addressing these challenges.
The five-day event included many activities, such as formal plenary sessions; hands-on capacity-building workshops; a tour of Kathmandu's cultural sites; a Nepali traditional cultural showcase featuring folk Nepali dance forms; an Asian cultural night featuring dances, music, storytelling and performances from various Asian 4-H nations; and the formation of a new committee for the 2025-2028 term of the Asia 4-H Network. The conference provided a comprehensive platform for dialogue, learning and regional partnership-building. The Summit concluded with a Nepali feast: a social reception celebrating the summit's success with indigenous Nepali food and beverages and promoting local cuisine among global delegates.
During the summit, I presented with Taiwan 4-H about 4-H visual letters. It was a cultural learning experience, as I presented in English and Taiwan 4-H translated in Taiwanese. The session was well received and a highlight for me was a comment from a Taiwan participant: “Your presentation moved me to tears! Thank you!” My heart was also warmed when a Taiwan participant shared that one of the pieces I chose to bring to the summit was one of her students! We took a photo so that she could show him upon her return to Taiwan.
Traveling with me to the summit was New Jersey 4-H Program Associate Michelle Teitsma, of Warren County Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Michelle also presented at the event, sharing a session on the 4-H International Camp United Program (4-HICUP) that was held in Branchville, New Jersey, in 2019 and Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2025. The session was also well-received, with approximately 60 participants from Taiwan, Japan, Nepal, Jamaica, Bangladesh and the United States.
Another highlight of the summit included receiving the surprise honor of being presented with the "4-H Global Visionary Leadership Award.” The award was in recognition of my contribution to the advancement of the 4-H movement globally since 1996 and continued dedication to the 4-H community. The wooden plaque was signed by Dr. Minendra Rijal, former minister of the Government of Nepal, and Lok Raj Awasthi, president of the Asia 4-H Network.
An exciting outcome of the event was outlining plans for Nepal 4-H to become a visual letters partner. Michigan 4-H will pilot a visual art letters cultural youth exchange with two Nepal schools in 2026-2027 and New Jersey 4-H will likely collaborate with this pilot exchange, too!
As they wrapped up the 2025 event, it was shared that Taiwan 4-H will host the fourth Global 4-H Summit in Taipei City, Taiwan in November 2026. The vision for this event is "Empower 4-H youth to move from being ready to leading in an ever-changing world."
I am already looking forward to the next summit, as each is full of networking, reconnecting, and making new international friends. There is so much to learn from one another, with a shared vision of empowering youth to lead the way in making our world a better place! You can learn more, too, about our Nepal 4-H partners in “4-H around the world: Nepal – Part 1” and “4-H around the world: Nepal — Part 2.”
MSU Extension and the Michigan 4-H Youth Development program help to prepare youth as positive and engaged leaders and global citizens by providing educational experiences and resources for youth interested in developing knowledge and skills in these areas. Other global educational opportunities can also be found on the MSU Extension Global and Cultural Education webpage. For more information about 4-H learning opportunities and other 4-H programs, contact your county MSU Extension office.
