The East Asia Youth Network (EAYN) is a sub-regional youth network in the Asia Pacific operational region. It provides a platform for youth from the East Asia National Societies (EANSs) to interact, connect and remain in communication. EAYN fosters mutual understanding, supports capacity building and facilitates the sharing of best practices. Guided by a youth-led and National Society-owned approach, the network encourages youth-led activities and empowers young people to engage in decision-making at all levels by considering doing more, doing better, reaching further.
The Network consists of five National Societies in East Asia: the Mongolian Red Cross Society (MRCS), the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS), the Republic of Korea National Red Cross (KNRC), the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Red Cross Society (DPRK RC) and the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC), including its two branches: the Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC) and the Macau Red Cross (Macau RC).
Every Red Cross youth from EANSs is automatically considered a member of EAYN. The EAYN Executive Committee is currently composed of 12 youth representatives from EANSs, responsible for key operations and decision-making. Additionally, 6 youth staff members from EANSs serve as observers, with the IFRC East Asia Delegation acting as the EAYN Secretariat to provide joint support. To further strengthen youth engagement in East Asia, EANSs have formed their youth support teams, while EAYN has established 3 Working Groups (WGs) to extend its reach and impact to contribute to wider regional initiatives.
The EAYN established Working Groups (WGs) in 2023, open to all Red Cross youth across East Asia National Societies (EANSs). These WGs aim to support the implementation of the EAYN Plan of Action, expand opportunities for grassroots youth to engage in the RCRC Movement, and cultivate future youth leaders for EANSs. The current three WGs are: Activities Support, Communication, Information & Initiatives. Each WG will be led by EAYN Executive Committee members from specific NS or branch.
To reduce language barriers, since 2025 each working group allocated half of its spots to volunteers who prefer to work in their native language, corresponding to the language of the WG’s leading members.
Check out the image below to see this year’s WGs and the EAYN member assignments!
