Ha Noi, 22 October 2026 – Five youth teams selected for Phase 2 of the Sustainable Energy Transition Youth Communication Competition (WATT’S UP) gathered in Ha Noi for a one-day briefing session aimed at strengthening their technical and communication skills and preparing them to develop and implement their campaigns.
Organised by the EU–Viet Nam Sustainable Energy Transition Facility (EVSET Facility) under the EU–Viet Nam Sustainable Energy Transition Programme (SETP), the Briefing Day provided an opportunity for the selected teams to deepen their understanding of Viet Nam’s energy transition, receive expert guidance, further develop their campaign ideas and connect with one another.
The event brought together 22 members of the five selected teams, representatives of the European Union Delegation to Viet Nam (EUD) and the EVSET Facility, as well as technical and communication mentors. The teams, representing young people from Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City, were selected from more than 100 submissions by 89 youth teams across 10 provinces and cities.
Through WATT’S UP, the European Union seeks to encourage young people to play an active role in Viet Nam’s sustainable energy transition by developing creative and accessible communication campaigns that make energy-related issues more understandable and relevant to their peers.
Opening the event, Mr Gonzalo Serrano de la Rosa, Deputy Head of Partnerships at the European Union Delegation to Viet Nam, emphasised the important role young people can play in making the energy transition more accessible and meaningful to wider audiences.
“The energy transition is not only about policies, technologies or investments. It is also about people – how we understand energy, the choices we make and the role each of us can play in shaping a more sustainable future. This is where young people have an especially important role,” he said.
Mr Gonzalo Serrano de la Rosa, Deputy Head of Partnerships at the European Union Delegation to Viet Nam, delivers opening remarks.
He also encouraged the teams to draw on their creativity and fresh perspectives to communicate complex energy topics in ways that resonate with their peers, highlighting their potential to contribute to the wider conversation about Viet Nam’s energy future.
At the briefing, the teams met their technical and communication mentors, who will support them throughout the next stage of the competition. Each mentor led a dedicated session to help the teams turn their ideas into effective campaigns.
The technical session gave an overview of Viet Nam’s energy transition and shared practical guidance on communicating energy-related topics accurately and responsibly, including the use of energy data, statistics and environmental claims.
Building on this, the communication session focused on developing clear messages, effective storytelling, content creation, audience engagement and the strategic use of paid social media promotion. The teams then put these approaches into practice through an interactive exercise on an energy-related communication challenge.
Following the Briefing Day, the teams will continue refining their campaign concepts and preparing for implementation, with ongoing support from the mentors and the EVSET Facility.
Beyond strengthening communication skills, WATT’S UP provides a platform for young people to share their perspectives, engage their communities and contribute their voices to the conversation on Viet Nam’s sustainable energy future.
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