SEAOHUN 2024 Regional Student Competition: Inspiring the Next Generation of One Health Champions

The SEAOHUN 2024 Regional Student Competition, a joint initiative with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and CHEVRON, successfully concluded, marking the fifth annual event that united students across Southeast Asia and Bangladesh. This year's theme, "Inspiring Action for Wildlife Conservation, Zoonotic Disease Prevention, and One Health," challenged participants to create 3-minute videos that addressed critical global issues and resonated on a global scale. 

 A total of 47 teams, comprising 235 students from Bangladesh and seven SEAOHUN member countries—Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam—participated. Each team, under the guidance of a faculty mentor, crafted a video that enhanced public awareness about wildlife conservation and biodiversity while underscoring the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. 

The competition began with a Student Competition webinar in June, where participants received insights from experts on technical knowledge, communication strategies, and competition guidelines. This foundational knowledge equipped the students to produce content that could make a significant impact. ​​​​​​​​​​​​

The submissions were evaluated by a panel consisting of One Health professionals, science communicators, and members from the One Health University Networks (OHUNs) and the OHW-NG global team. The competition unveiled eight winning teams from the participating countries: (Link to watch all the videos)​​​

• Bangladesh: Acyclovir 

• Cambodia: Angkor Youth 

• Indonesia: VCGC 

• Laos: Ecosystem Health 

• Malaysia: Rafflesia 

• Philippines: Sinukuan Gazette 

• Thailand: Monkey Squad 

• Vietnam: Wilds Heart 

Public Engagement and Recognition: The competition also featured a public voting phase, drawing thousands of interactions. The top three Public Pick Award Winners were: 

• Acyclovir (Bangladesh): 3.2K likes on YouTube 

• Ecosystem Health (Laos): 2.1K likes on YouTube 

• Rafflesia (Malaysia): 2K likes on YouTube 

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As a reward, each winning team from the eight participating countries will receive a Travel Award to attend the SEAOHUN 2024 Student Summit in Malaysia. This summit will provide them with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of One Health and network with peers and professionals from across the region. Reflecting on the competition, Mr. Muhammad Syazwan Afiq from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, a member of the Rafflesia team, noted, "The competition was an excellent platform to showcase creativity. The judging was professional, and the feedback will be instrumental for future improvements. I appreciated the clear guidelines and the chance to be part of this meaningful initiative." 

The SEAOHUN 2024 Regional Student Competition has not only showcased the creativity and passion of its participants but also fostered a movement empowering young leaders to advocate for a healthier, more sustainable world. Congratulations to all participants and winners for their exceptional contributions!