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From building solar-powered e-libraries to protecting marine life, 100 youth from Southeast Asian countries are rolling up their sleeves to drive change where it matters most
Leading up to the ASEAN Day celebration on 8 August 2025, Maybank Foundation and ASEAN Foundation officially welcomed 100 youth volunteers and representatives from 10 civil society organizations (CSOs) and social enterprises (SEs) from across Southeast Asia at the opening ceremony of the latest Regional Capacity Building Workshop for eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN (eYAA): Cohort 5.
Held at Chulalongkorn University from July 20 to 23, the four-day Regional Capacity Building Workshop brought together young people aged 19 to 35 from all 10 ASEAN countries to design and develop 10 impactful, community-based projects that will be rolled out across the region.
From Cambodia to the Philippines, these changemakers aren’t just talking about change—they’re leading it.
Groundbreaking youth-led projects
Each participant is matched with a civil society organization (CSO) or social enterprise (SE) working directly in local communities. Together, they’re co-creating solutions tailored to real needs—from access to education to environmental conservation.
One of the initiatives is the “Paaralang Bukas Kalikasan” by Curma Group Inc. in La Union. This program reimagines beaches and classrooms as spaces for hands-on environmental learning. With a goal of empowering youth to protect marine ecosystems, the project engages students, teachers, and entire communities to tackle challenges like overfishing and plastic pollution. More than 3,000 people are expected to benefit from the project, including 50 trained youth ambassadors.
Another inspiring project is “Project Digital Horizon” in Siargao Island. It brings the future of learning to underserved areas by introducing solar-powered e-libraries. Designed by youth in partnership with Espoir School of Life Inc., the project will provide digital books, interactive modules, and AI-assisted literacy tools to children and teachers—bridging the education gap in remote island communities.
“We firmly believe that when given the right tools to succeed, our youth can be a constructive force for development. The power of youth lies not only in doing something great but also in uncovering their full potential and courage, enabling them to achieve meaningful things for the future,” Tan Sri Dato' Sri Ir. Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, chairman of Maybank Group and Maybank Foundation said in his opening remarks.
Support beyond the workshop
What makes eYAA unique is that it’s more than just a workshop—it’s an experience that immerses young people in the realities of grassroots work. After the training, participants will live and work in their assigned communities for two weeks, implementing the projects they’ve helped design. Each team will also receive up to USD $25,000 in grant support, and the local CSOs and SEs will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of the projects. It’s a hands-on way to learn leadership, collaboration, and community-building—skills that go beyond the classroom.
While the program is supported by organizations like the ASEAN Foundation and others, the spotlight is firmly on the youth themselves: their passion, creativity, and drive to make a difference.
As Southeast Asia looks toward the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, it’s clear that young people aren’t just the future—they’re already shaping it.
