YOUTH THE CATALYST FOR INCLUSIVE, RESILIENT ASEAN COMMUNITY - HANNAH
KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- Youth have the potential to be a catalyst for the formation of a more inclusive and resilient ASEAN community based on human values through their active involvement in volunteer work and community development.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said this is because involvement in regional activities, such as through platforms like the ASEAN Youth Volunteer programme, not only exposes them to volunteer work and community development, but also allows them to be trained to be agents of social change.
"We hope to provide opportunities to youths and train them so that they can gain experience. So, one day, when their services are needed, they already know what needs to be done.
"Our youth must be equipped with the capability to be mobilised and deployed. In ASEAN alone, we have more than 220 million youth,” she told reporters after officiating the launch of the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Forum 2025 at Auditorium Sasana Kijang, Bank Negara Malaysia here today.
Also present were Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Nagulendran and Youth and Sports Department director-general Azura Abidin.
Hannah said that if all these ASEAN youth are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and support, they will be able to make the region a powerful force with global influence, particularly in terms of young workforce and sustainable development.
"If we can unearth talent among these 220 million youth, ASEAN has the potential to produce a young workforce and attract investments to this region,” she added.
Commenting on the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Forum, Hannah participants would be taken to Sabah and Sarawak from July 13-19 to participate in various activities, including leadership training, community projects, regional networking and cross-cultural exchanges.
The ASEAN Youth Volunteer Forum, held today, brings together panellists and young ASEAN leaders from diverse backgrounds, including policymakers and representatives from regional organisations.
The forum showcases interactive discussions based on the four main themes, namely Bridging Gaps: Youth Volunteerism for Inclusive Growth; Green Horizon: Youth Driving Environmental Change; Unity in Diversity: Building Social Harmony Through Youth Engagement; and Tech For Good: Harnessing Digital Tools for Community Empowerment.
The themes align with ASEAN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda.
-- BERNAMA
