SINGAPORE – Efforts to intensify collaboration among young ASEAN leaders in key areas like sustainability continue despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
Over the next five days, 33 delegates from the association’s 10 member states will attend the 3rd ASEAN Youth Fellowship, which was postponed last year due to the pandemic.
Launching the program on Wednesday, October 27, Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development, Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, said ASEAN youth have shown remarkable courage and promise in facing the regional challenges, such as the social and economic problems caused by the pandemic. , and those surrounding climate change and sustainability.
He told delegates, “(Asean youth) are taking the future into their own hands and gently but firmly shaping it into a bigger, better and brighter future.
“I encourage you to reach out openly and enthusiastically, to learn more about the stories of your fellow participants and the possibilities you can unlock together.”
The program of dialogue with industry leaders and team building sessions was organized by the National Youth Council and the International Foundation of Singapore, and open via application or nomination to people between the ages of approximately 27 and 35. years who are leaders in their communities beyond their professional work. .
As one of 10 representatives from Singapore, consultant orthopedic surgeon Hamid Razak, 36, said he was eager to learn more about the public health systems of various Asean countries.
Dr Hamid, who is also Assistant Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School and Adjunct Professor at National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University Schools of Medicine, said: “I am also interested in discussions on sustainability issues regarding the medical industry and medical waste.”
He added that as someone who is also involved in mentoring outside of his professional work, he will use the fellowship as an opportunity to network and meet potential mentors.
A participant from Jakarta, business development manager Cynthia Handriani Wijaya, 27, said achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for Indonesia is not possible without the support of other ASEAN countries.
Ms Wijaya, who works for Daya Selaras Group, a sustainability company specializing in paper packaging, said: “People who have worked in the sustainability industry know that this is a journey to long term, which means seeing the immediate impact of your work can be quite difficult.
“In order to bring about lasting and greater change, it is impossible to work alone. We need all 10 ASEAN countries to work together, and I think there are opportunities for that.”
