Young changemakers, unite!

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

- JESSICA PAG-IWAYAN

Leading up to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (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 Bangkok, Thailand 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.