100 Asean youth changemakers mobilised to drive social impact in eYAA Cohort 5

Sinar Daily

18 hours ago

As Asean gears up to celebrate Asean Day on Aug 8, 100 youth volunteers representing all 10 Asean Member States gathered in Bangkok, Thailand, to kick off Cohort 5 of the eMpowering Youths Across Asean (eYAA) programme.
The programme is a flagship regional initiative by Maybank Foundation and Asean Foundation.
Held from July 20 to July 23 at Chulalongkorn University, the Regional Capacity Building Workshop marked the official launch of Cohort 5 and brought together youth volunteers, civil society organisations (CSOs) and social enterprises (SEs) to co-design ten community-based projects tailored to local needs in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, the newest country to join the programme.
Chairman of Maybank Group and Maybank Foundation, Tan Sri Datuk Sri Ir Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said Maybank remains committed to driving social empowerment through the eYAA programme in partnership with the Asean Foundation.
'The initiative empowers young changemakers to create meaningful impact, promote cultural unity and help build a more inclusive and resilient Asean community.
'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,' he said. Ahead of Asean Day on Aug 8, 100 youth from all 10 member states gathered in Bangkok for Cohort 5 of eYAA, a flagship programme by Maybank Foundation and Asean Foundation. Photo: Edited via Canva
Meanwhile, Asean Foundation Executive Director Dr Piti Srisangnam, echoed the sentiment.
'We are incredibly excited to continue this journey with Maybank Foundation. This programme reminds us that youth are not just future leaders—they are leading change today.
'Through eYAA, we are taking real steps toward achieving the Asean Community Vision 2045, a region where youth are at the centre of building a more inclusive, innovative and resilient Southeast Asia,' he mentioned.
The 100 selected participants, aged 19 to 35, represented diverse cultural, academic and professional backgrounds. Each team was matched with local CSOs and SEs who offered deep knowledge of local issues and will help facilitate successful project implementation.
Each team also received up to USD 25,000 in grant funding to deliver real-world solutions in their assigned communities.
Among the notable projects is the Youth EdXchange Programme in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, led by Fly Technology Agriculture Sdn Bhd. This project focused on Environmental Education (EE) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and included idea-thons, waste management workshops, and educational activities aimed at promoting sustainability.
It directly benefited 1,563 individuals including 50 youth, 1,500 students, 6 educators and 8 organisational representatives and is expected to reach an additional 1,000 people through extended outreach.
Another impactful initiative is the Seri Budaya project by Yayasan Anak-anak Yatim Wardatul Jannah in Kota Damansara, Selangor, which seeks to empower underserved youth and preserve Malaysia's cultural heritage through traditional performing arts.
With bi-weekly dance classes, public showcases and mentorship, it targets 500 direct youth beneficiaries and aims to engage over 1,500 others including educators, families and local artists.
Following a successful 2024 pilot where 85 per cent of participants gained confidence and 90 per cent expressed strong interest in continuing, Seri Budaya is now scaled up for broader impact.
The launch ceremony and workshop were also attended by several dignitaries and leaders from Asean and Maybank.
Following the workshop, volunteers departed for their respective project sites, where they will live and work alongside local communities for two weeks. The projects aim to promote sustainable development, deepen cross-border collaboration and foster leadership among Asean youth.
Since its inception in 2018, eYAA has empowered 382 youth volunteers, delivered 40 community projects and positively impacted over 89,000 people across Southeast Asia. With the inclusion of Viet Nam as a new host country, the programme continues to grow its regional footprint.
An inspiring example of eYAA's impact is Zulfikar Dabby Anwar, a Cohort 4 alumnus, who once contributed to a waste management initiative in Kuching. He returned to Cohort 5 as a CSO representative, illustrating the programme's ability to cultivate youth leaders committed to long-term change.
At its heart, eYAA aligns with the Asean Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025, strengthening regional solidarity by placing youth at the forefront of development. The programme is also a key pillar of Maybank's sustainability efforts, in line with its mission to humanise financial services and improve two million households across Asean by 2025.
By providing resources, mentorship and a collaborative platform, eYAA continues to nurture a new generation of Asean changemakers—committed to building a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient region.