ASEAN Youth Fellows Aspire to Build a More Innovative and Connected ASEAN

Forty-four Southeast Asian youth leaders gathered for the sixth edition of the ASEAN Youth Fellowship (AYF) from 3 to 10 November 2024. They came from the 10 ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste, which was represented at AYF for the first time.

The programme is co-organised yearly by the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and National Youth Council (NYC) Singapore. It seeks to connect and grow emerging young leaders with a focus on public, private, and people sector collaboration.

AYF 2024 took Fellows to Singapore as well as Vientiane and Luang Prabang in Laos. During the programme, Fellows discussed topics such as digital transformation, inclusivity, and sustainability in the region with prominent thought leaders from diverse sectors. They shared perspectives on possible solutions to address common challenges in these areas. 

The Fellows also had the opportunity to engage in various conversations with Singapore’s Minister for Education, Mr Chan Chun Sing in Singapore, and Deputy Secretary General of the Lao Youth Union, His Excellency Thongly Sisoulith in Vientiane. Both Mr Chan and Mr Thongly highlighted the importance of strengthening connectivity, resilience, and regional cooperation within ASEAN.

In both Singapore and Laos, the Fellows gained insights from visits to organisations at the forefront of innovation and future-readiness. In Singapore, the visits included the Sembcorp Tengeh Floating Solar Farm, the country’s first inland floating solar photovoltaic system. The visitors also witnessed first-hand how the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) leverages technology to supplement border control management at Woodlands Checkpoint. It is one of the world’s busiest land crossings, accommodating an average of 400,000 travellers daily.

Ms Phetmany Viyadeth, a Fellow from Laos said: “ASEAN countries have significant opportunities to work together on innovative solutions in areas such as education, which can drive long-term progress across the region. For instance, we could create a region-wide educational framework to enhance access to quality education and digital literacy. By working together to improve education and bridge skill gaps, ASEAN countries can build a more resilient, skilled, and forward-thinking community, ready to tackle future challenges.”

In Vientiane, the Fellows visited Makerbox Lao, a community workspace which leverages state-of-the-art digital fabrication facilities for experiments on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) projects. Makerbox Lao’s founders spoke about how its collaborative environment has helped to foster innovation in the community. This echoed Laos’ call as ASEAN Chairman in 2024 to strengthen cross-border collaboration for a more connected and innovative ASEAN. 

The Fellows also visited Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of their cultural immersion experience. They tried their hand at making handicrafts at Ock Pop Tok, an organisation dedicated to preserving Laos’ traditional textiles and crafts.

Mr Israruddin, a Fellow from Indonesia said: “Having a more interconnected ASEAN can strengthen resilience by fostering shared knowledge and resources, as well as best practices across borders. For instance, collaborative disaster response systems and healthcare initiatives could bolster resilience, allowing countries to support each other in times of crisis. By strengthening connections, ASEAN can enable local communities to benefit from a wider network, reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing their capacity to face future challenges collectively.” 

To encourage Fellows to further their collaboration after the programme and create greater impact in the region, the AYF Impact Fund was introduced to support ground-up initiatives which promote youth development, community building, and other related causes. It provides S$5,000 for each Fellow’s initiative, or up to S$20,000 for each project that Fellows organise as a team. 

One such project was the ASEAN Women Empowerment Portal. AYF alumni from Singapore, Myanmar, Vietnam, and the Philippines created the platform for women across ASEAN to exchange ideas and experiences and learn from one another on issues unique to the region.

Inspired by the AYF Impact Fund, Mr Janu Muhammad, a Fellow from Indonesia said: “Many young farmers in Southeast Asia are facing challenges related to low interest in agriculture, economic instability as farmers, lack of capacity to deal with climate change, and limited access to resources. Through the AYF Impact Fund, I hope to promote agripreneurship using Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) to increase the income of young farmers in the hydroponics and aquaponics sector in Southeast Asia so that they can be more prosperous. I am looking at implementing this pilot project together with other Fellows from Indonesia and Cambodia.” 

Mr David Chua, Chief Executive Officer, NYC, said: “The AYF is a key youth leadership programme that cultivates and connects established young leaders from diverse sectors across ASEAN. Our youths play an instrumental role in strengthening regional ties and AYF provides a launchpad for regional impact and opens up opportunities for youths to gain insights and valuable networks to navigate the complex challenges facing ASEAN.”

Ms Corinna Chan, Chief Executive Officer, SIF, said: “In the face of global challenges such as climate change, food security, and public health, youths can help to drive innovative solutions with their fresh perspectives and bold approaches.  

“I am glad that the AYF continues to be a platform which brings young ASEAN leaders together to connect, collaborate and cooperate in building an innovative and connected ASEAN.”

D.A (Vietnam Business Forum)