BANGKOK, THAILAND — Leading up to the ASEAN Day celebration on August 08, 2024, the ASEAN Foundation and Maybank Foundation launched its latest five-day regional capacity-building workshop of “eMpowering Youths Across Asean (eYAA) Programme: Cohort 04” at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
In realizing the overarching goals of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025 to create a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient community, the program aims to equip and inspire ASEAN youth as the prime needle movers in contributing and advocating for sustainable development.
Maybank, through Maybank Foundation, in collaboration with ASEAN Foundation, believes that education is integral to empowerment; thus, eYAA is a platform to nurture young leaders in addressing socioeconomics and developmental issues across ASEAN. The initiative is also aligned with Maybank’s mission to humanize financial services and supports one of its four sustainability commitments: Improving the lives of two million households across ASEAN by 2025.
The eYAA program and workshop brings together 100 youth volunteers and 10 representatives from selected civil society organizations (CSOs) across ASEAN, to showcase 10 impactful projects, explore collaboration opportunities and providing experiential learning as well as education, with the aim to create meaningful change and empower communities across the region.
This year, for the first time, the eYAA program is establishing an alumni network, where 32 youth from previous cohorts (Cohorts 01, 02 and 03) and eight CSO representatives from Cohort 03 will be in attendance. The inaugural inclusion of the alumni signifies a milestone in the program’s evolution, highlighting the growing strength and value of eYAA’s network, and the opportunity to share their valuable first-hand experience and relatable insights to inspire and motivate new participants, promoting a culture of giving back and mutual support.
Prior to the opening ceremony, the inaugural eYAA Alumni Impact Forum was organized, highlighting the program’s achievements, including the empowerment of three cohorts comprising of 293 youth volunteers, in collaboration with 25 CSOs and social enterprises which have impacted 60,562 community members across ASEAN through arts and culture, community building, education, and environmental initiatives.
Within this overall enhanced program, all participants gained essential resources, best practices, and actionable plans for successfully implementing community projects across ASEAN. Participants were seen engaging in panel and group discussions on topics such as “The Volunteering Effect: Empowering Youth, Igniting Careers, And Creating Lasting Change” and Training workshops on Design Thinking, financial management, sustainability, volunteering and pitching presentation.
The latest eYAA: Cohort 04 provides variety of opportunities and benefits to participants. Each group of youth volunteers and CSOs in the program has the opportunity to obtain a grant of USD 25,000 – 27,000, which will be used to support the implementation of community initiatives.
Following this year’s workshop, the fourth cohort of the program will mobilize “The Changemakers,” to embark in community projects in six ASEAN countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. These dedicated individuals and organizations will embark on diverse initiatives aimed at creating positive impact across ASEAN.
For instance, in the Philippines, Changemakers will implement two impactful projects aimed at enhancing education and improving community well-being.
The first project, “Angat Edukasyon,” spearheaded by Angat Pinas, Inc., is a three-month reading program for early-grade learners in Naga City, Camarines Sur, and other sites across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. This initiative aims to elevate reading proficiency levels among young students, reinforce parental involvement in education, and cultivate a sense of community responsibility. By addressing educational challenges exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the project will benefit early-grade learners and their families, aiming to create a positive impact on educational outcomes.
The second project, “Waves With WASH-Ed (Caloocan),” led by Masy Consultants, Inc., in Caloocan City, Metro Manila, aims to improve the quality of life for vulnerable youth through transformative education and increased access to dignified Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Education (WASH-Ed) facilities. The project will target local young professionals, teachers, students, and community members, aiming to provide sustainable solutions that promote health, dignity, and educational opportunities. Beneficiaries of this project will benefit from enhanced educational resources and improved sanitary facilities, contributing to overall community development and well-being.
The regional capacity-building workshop of eYAA: Cohort 04 was attended by H.E. Mr. Russ Jalichandra, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand; Assistant Professor Dr. Sineenat Sermcheep, Executive Director of ASEAN Studies Centre; H.E. Amb. M.I. Derry Aman, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to ASEAN; H.E. Amb. Bovonethat Douangchak, Permanent Representative of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to ASEAN; H.E. Amb. Sarah Al Bakri Devadason, Permanent Mission of Malaysia to ASEAN; H.E. Amb. Phantipha Iamsudha Ekarohit, Permanent Mission of Kingdom of Thailand to ASEAN; Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Chairman of Maybank Group and Maybank Foundation; Ms. Rodora Turalde Babaran, Director of Human Development Directorate, ASEAN Secretariat, representing H.E The Secretary-General of ASEAN; Datuk (Dr) Nora Abd Manaf, Group Chief Human Capital Officer Maybank; Shahril Azuar Jimin, Group Chief Sustainability Officer Maybank; Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation; and Izlyn Ramli, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maybank Foundation.
Meanwhile Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation, said, “The eMpowering Youths program embodies our commitment to nurturing the next generation of ASEAN leaders. By providing opportunities for young volunteers to engage in impactful projects, we are not only fostering a spirit of collaboration but also driving sustainable development across the region. Together, we can build a stronger, more integrated ASEAN community,”.
“We are enabling ASEAN youth to lead sustainable changes across our communities through the Regional Capacity Building Workshop of eMpowering Youths: Cohort 04. These initiatives testify to our shared commitment in promoting sustainable development and enriching communities throughout Southeast Asia. By empowering youth to spearhead initiatives that address pressing social and economic challenges, we are dedicated in making meaningful difference, creating positive change and nurturing a future where collaboration and innovation drive lasting impact,” said Shahril Azuar Jimin, Group Chief Sustainability Officer Maybank.
Launched on the 51st ASEAN Day on August 08, 2018, the eYAA program is dedicated to empowering youth aged 19 to 35 and communities across ten ASEAN Member States to develop and implement community projects that deliver tangible long-term social and economic impacts. This initiative galvanises youth to lead meaningful change, providing an experiential and educational platform through social volunteerism. Participants collaborate with individuals from diverse backgrounds to implement their ideas and advocate solutions to local community issues across ASEAN.
