This ASEAN Foundation and Maybank Foundation Collaboration has impacted close to 40,000 community members via 175 youth volunteers and 20 Civil Society Organisations/Social Enterprises since 2018
Kuala Lumpur, 7 August 2023 – In line with the celebratory spirit surrounding ASEAN Day on 8 August 2023, ASEAN Foundation and Maybank Foundation welcomed 120 youth volunteers and ten representatives from the selected civil society organisations (CSOs) and social enterprises (SEs) from across the region to the opening ceremony of the Regional Capacity Building Workshop of the eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN (EYAA) programme, Cohort 3 at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.
Before embarking on the community projects in the five ASEAN countries, namely Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines, the youth volunteers will undergo a regional capacity-building workshop from 24 to 27 July 2023. This workshop will act as an avenue for youth volunteers and CSOs to receive extensive project management training and to finalise their project proposals.
The community projects implemented by both youth volunteers and CSOs will strive to tackle a range of issues around the topics of Arts and Culture, Community Empowerment, Education, and Environmental Diversity in the five countries. For instance, in Indonesia, initiatives like Thrive Together, Tenun. In Belu, and BerDAYA are dedicated to nurturing personal development, empowering local artisans, and promoting leadership skills. These initiatives aspire to have a significant impact by empowering individuals, safeguarding cultural heritage, and nurturing future leaders who can spearhead positive change within their respective communities.
The EYAA programme is designed for youth between the ages of 19 to 35 years from the ten ASEAN Member States, offering them an immersive and educational learning platform through social volunteerism. In this programme, a diverse group of young changemakers will have the unique opportunity to bring their ideas to life and embark on impactful projects across selected ASEAN countries.
In its third edition, the EYAA programme offers a range of opportunities and benefits for participants. Each group of youth volunteers and CSOs within the programme has the potential to receive a grant of up to USD27,000, which will be used to support the implementation of the community projects.
Furthermore, participants will also have the chance to build an extensive network at the regional level, connecting with individuals and organisations across Southeast Asia. This expanded network opens doors for collaborations and partnerships in the future. Additionally, the programme facilitates exposure across ASEAN by involving various stakeholders from the region, allowing participants to gain visibility and recognition for their contributions.
