In Your Words

I want to live in an ASEAN that is peaceful, united, forward-looking, and a place where everyone has the opportunity to develop their potential. By 2045, I hope we will be a community made up of people who are compassionate, educated, innovative, and fair. I hope that our region brings together diverse perspectives to find shared solutions. And I hope that the world recognises our progress, stability, and ability to move forward together.

For me, one of the biggest environmental challenges ASEAN is facing today is our heavy dependence on single-use plastics. They’re everywhere—from packaging to everyday items—and it’s clear they’re harming our land, oceans, and even our health. I believe it’s time for ASEAN to seriously commit to reducing plastic use and start moving toward a zero-plastic future.

It doesn’t have to happen overnight. A gradual shift would work best—starting with phasing out single-use plastics in schools, government offices, and large businesses. From there, we can slowly introduce stricter rules and offer support for people and companies that switch to eco-friendly alternatives like reusable or biodegradable materials. It’s about changing habits, not just making rules.

I think ASEAN can benefit a lot from learning from each other. Singapore, for example, has done a great job with waste management. I think it’s about working together and taking small but steady steps.

One thing we could do is to ensure ASEAN youth’s access to environmental education.

Environmental education must move beyond textbooks and become embedded in community-based learning, school curricula, and vocational programmes that prepare youth for the emerging green economy. Research findings show that Southeast Asia could create up to 6.5 million green jobs by 2030, particularly in sectors like sustainable energy, waste management, and eco-tourism. However, a lack of early awareness and skill-building opportunities hinders young people from taking these pathways.

Youth-driven programmes have shown strong, tangible impacts in conservation and climate resilience, especially when paired with mentorship, entrepreneurship, and digital platforms. By making environmental education accessible, relatable, and linked to economic opportunities, ASEAN can nurture a generation that is not only environmentally aware but also empowered to lead systemic change.

ASEAN has been successful in fostering peace and economic development in Southeast Asia. However, it faces difficulties in tackling pressing social and environmental issues. If I could change one thing, I would introduce a legally binding ASEAN Environmental and Social Sustainability Charter.

The proposed charter would set enforceable standards for areas such as deforestation, pollution control, labour rights, and renewable energy.

It would also enhance accountability through consistent monitoring and the establishment of a more authoritative regional body.

Adopting this charter and reforming ASEAN’s decision-making processes (such as by adopting a system of qualified majority voting) will enable ASEAN to act in a coordinated manner towards effective solutions.

The ASEAN region is highly vulnerable to climate crises because of its location. According to data from the Altimetry Satellite, sea levels in Southeast Asia have risen by an average of 3.1 mm annually between 1993 and 2009.

Additionally, hydrometeorological disasters, which result from the worsening climate crisis, have significantly increased over the past half-century.

The vulnerability of the ASEAN region also stems from the fact that its member countries’ economies rely heavily on agriculture and fisheries. This situation directly affects food security, especially amid the rapid urbanisation occurring in the region.

ASEAN has shown a real commitment to addressing the climate crisis through various initiatives and programmes.

However, one of the key challenges in the ASEAN region is the lack of financial support and resources for youth-led climate projects at t the grassroots level. The ASEAN Infrastructure Fund, which is integrated with the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF), has a great potential to attract funding from the private sector and expand its use to youth-based climate actions. The funds can be directed to support sustainable business development, climate advocacy among children and youth, and technological innovation in waste management, food, and other environmental issues.

This solution is a form of real support for the transition to clean energy, to reduce dependence on dirty energy, and to reduce the impact of the climate crisis. The success of the energy transition does not solely depend on large-scale projects but also on small-scale initiatives that are evenly distributed in various regions. In this case, the role of youth is very important because they can bring innovation and creativity in responding to the challenges of the climate crisis.

I would want ASEAN to work more closely with local communities and groups rather than viewing them as outsiders. Social and environmental problems are connected, and often, the people who face the biggest challenges are not listened to. ASEAN should support grassroots groups and protect the land, traditions, and rights of indigenous and vulnerable communities. It’s important to put people first, not just economic growth.

I would encourage ASEAN to strengthen youth-led action and legal accountability in addressing social and environmental challenges. As someone who has represented Cambodian youth in ASEAN forums and engaged in both legal and educational work, I’ve seen how young people can play a powerful role in solving real-world issues, but only if they are empowered and heard.

ASEAN should create stronger mechanisms to involve youth, civil society, and local communities in shaping policies on climate change, social protection, and environmental sustainability. This includes regular community consultations, youth representation in decision-making bodies, and support for grassroots initiatives. When people at all levels are involved, solutions become more practical, inclusive, and long-lasting.

To me, inclusivity is more than participation; it is the foundation of a sustainable ASEAN. Imagine a community where farmers in remote villages, young innovators in urban centres, persons with disabilities, and indigenous peoples all have an equal voice in decision-making. That is where ASEAN’s true strength lies: in embracing diversity, not overlooking it.

Of course, achieving broad-based participation is difficult, especially with political differences, unequal digital access, and bureaucratic barriers. To move forward, I see three key actions such as: (i) empowering the youth through regional forums, exchange programs, and platforms for innovation; (ii) strengthening the role of civil society as a vital bridge between communities and policymakers; and (iii) harnessing digital technology to reach more people through online surveys, virtual forums, and digital literacy efforts, while actively bridging the access gap.

My vision is for an ASEAN that is open and participatory, where every voice counts, decisions are made together, and people feel a genuine sense of belonging. A community that is not only strong economically and politically, but also socially and culturally. By creating space for all to be heard, we position ASEAN as a global example of how diversity can be our greatest strength, and participation the right of every individual.

When we speak of inclusion, we usually talk about how everyone, regardless of background, identity, ability, or circumstance, is welcomed, respected, and able to fully participate in community life.

But sometimes, inclusion isn’t best measured in numbers or titles. Sometimes, it’s measured by laughter. Not the formal kind shared during icebreakers, but the real kind—spontaneous, unguarded, shared across languages and inside jokes. The kind that says you’re not just here to represent your country. You’re here because you’re wanted.

I learned this during my experience in the University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP) programme. We came from different countries, dressed in different uniforms, spoke in different rhythms.

Inclusion began in the unscheduled parts of the day: while waiting in line for food, sharing snacks during breaks, getting lost on the way to the lecture hall. That’s where the real conversations happened. No microphones. No icebreakers. Just people, learning each other’s names slowly, gently, and with grace. And that’s something no policy draft can replicate.

Inclusivity isn’t always official. It lives in the soft spaces between the formal ones. And it is in these spaces—where people feel safe enough to be themselves—that meaningful participation begins. After all, no one can truly take part in decision-making while silently questioning if their presence is a mistake.

This is why my hope for ASEAN begins not with who is allowed in the room, but with how the room is built. I imagine spaces that do not reward only confidence but also hold space for uncertainty. Agendas that slow down for emotion, not just efficiency. Conversations where pauses are not rushed, and where people are not measured by how loudly they speak, but by how deeply they are listened to. A region where inclusion means you are not asked to become someone else just to be welcomed—and where your quiet, your accent, your difference, are not just tolerated but trusted.

I hope for an ASEAN where inclusion isn’t just written in policy papers but practiced in everyday decisions. Where people who are usually ignored are finally included, not out of pity, but because their voices carry wisdom.

Right now, too many decisions are made in rooms most of us can’t enter. Youth from rural areas, refugees, indigenous people, and people with disabilities; we live the impact but we are rarely asked what we think.

Inclusion means power. And power should be shared and not hidden. We don’t need more symbolic seats at the table. We need tables where everyone feels welcome.

I want to see an open digital platform built for ASEAN citizens. Not just country by country but something shared. One that’s simple, multilingual, mobile-friendly, where people can vote on issues, leave feedback, or learn about policies through plain language or video. The tech exists. What’s missing is the courage to make it inclusive.

Each ASEAN country should also support youth-led councils that are funded, trained, and trusted with real decision-making power and not just for show.

Another idea: Centre the voices of those who live the issues every day. Education policy should involve students and teachers. Climate decisions should include those who work the land and sea. When lived experience guides leadership, policy becomes real and not just words on paper.

Young people are already leading climate protests, organising mental health spaces, and building education platforms from scratch. We’ve been waiting, knocking, and we’re done waiting.

I care about this because I’ve seen how it feels to be sidelined; to want to speak up but not know where or how, and I don’t want others to feel that silence.

Inclusion isn’t about doing one good campaign. It’s a mindset, a system, and it’s a habit. It’s something that must be practised every day, even when it’s inconvenient.

My hope is for an ASEAN that makes room, every day, for all of us, because if decisions shape our lives, we all deserve to shape the decisions.

My hope is for ASEAN to go beyond its foundational pillars and become a way of life for all: the ASEAN Way. ASEAN should not just function as an official entity, but also as a grounding force for our shared values of harmony and mutual respect. In this way, inclusion can be organically instilled in our region.

By 2045, different overarching concerns or widening divides between our communities may appear, e.g., digital, rural-urban, health, genetic, and climate. There may be a whole new lexicon to describe our fragmentation. However, the importance of mutual understanding remains as significant as it was in 1967. ASEAN’s strength has always been its vision for cooperation and peace. This should not be taken for granted, especially by our generation who grew up in this era of “pax ASEAN.”

ASEAN has stood as a strong beacon of peaceful regional cooperation in a turbulent world. My vision for a more inclusive ASEAN is to reinforce this big umbrella with different but enduring tiers of collaboration across cities, regions, and sectors. This gives people more avenues to become involved and contribute at different stages of the decision-making process to make ASEAN a better region.

Inclusivity should be infused at every level of collaboration, allowing for participation from non-state actors—youth, persons with disabilities, grassroots communities, indigenous groups, and civil society organisations—not only in conversations, but in shaping agendas.

In the end, my wish for an inclusive ASEAN would be that ASEAN would not just shine through our diverse representation among our leaders. It will be about the everyday people dedicated to building long-term trust, mutual respect, and harmony through the generations.

ASEAN can support communities in crises by building a more coordinated regional response system for youth. This includes emergency relief, mental health support, sustainable development education and economic recovery programs.

I believe that sustainable development works best when local people improve their lives without relying too heavily on outside assistance. I would like to share my experience on this. In 2023, when running an environmental education project in Vinh Phuc province, I encountered a significant challenge: residents were reluctant to welcome outsiders. They were hesitant to support long-term conservation efforts that offered no immediate financial benefits.

To address this, we conduct a survey and build trust with the locals. After listening to their values and needs, we presented our idea to the People’s Committee, proposing to plant trees along the path to the local temple. This approach would connect forest protection with local religious beliefs, aligning community needs with forest restoration goals.

Thanks to understanding local contexts, forming strong partnerships, and applying creative problem-solving that I experienced from ASEAN Foundation’s programmes, I became more observant, ask thoughtful questions, build sincere and purposeful connections, and navigate the practical and social aspects of student life under high academic expectations. Therefore, I believe that if there are more opportunities for universities and schools to exchange, ASEAN will also equip others to apply practical, community-based solutions to have a better life for all ASEAN citizens.

I’m proud of how diverse and creative ASEAN is. Our cultures are full of stories, traditions, and ways of resisting injustice. To keep these cultural elements alive, we need to support artists, storytellers, cultural communities, and traditional knowledge keepers. Culture should be something we live and share, not just something stuck in the past

I believe that we can keep ASEAN’s rich culture alive for future generations through the craft of shoemaking. I use shoes as a platform to celebrate ASEAN’s rich and diverse artistic heritage and legacy while at the same time championing the latest scientific technology and innovations, which were showcased in my recently internationally awarded shoe designs. As an educator, I also believe that shoemaking is an excellent platform on which we can share our beautiful stories of our ASEAN communities, of which I am wholeheartedly honoured to be a part.

I am proud to be a part of ASEAN because it represents a strong example of regional unity in diversity. Even with our different languages, religions, cultures, and political systems, we have built a community based on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared goals. ASEAN’s commitment to peace, economic development, and cultural exchange makes me proud to be a citizen of this region. In addition, the spirit of solidarity in our region is evident in our crisis responses, youth and education initiatives, and sustainable development efforts. This shows that we are stronger together. Being part of ASEAN means having a shared identity that values dialogue, inclusivity, a multicultural community, and the rich heritage of Southeast Asia.

I am proud to be part of ASEAN because it reflects togetherness and a bigger community with a shared Asian context and history. We need to preserve each ASEAN country’s unique culture, while allowing for cultural exchanges within ASEAN and keeping cultural heritage alive for future generations.

The strength of ASEAN cannot be solidified if each individual country cannot act as a cohesive whole. The ASEAN Charter calls us to “adhere to the rule of law, good governance, the principles of democracy and constitutional government.” We are framed as a community yearning for a collective good, beyond individuals. We are compelled to uphold the principles of equality and sovereignty, drawing from our shared histories and struggles.

There is a Javanese saying, “don’t abuse power, wealth, and knoweldge” [Aja adigang, adigung, adiguna]. Yet, as time passes and global politics becomes unstable, leaders forget these fundamental values. They are now using their power, wealth, and knowledge for their own self-interest, forgetting our interests.

As a 14-year-old, I believe that this isn’t right. Although it seems inevitable that politicians prioritise their interests, there is something we can do to prevent this from harming us.

So what is the solution?

Educate the next generation. I call upon all citizens of ASEAN, from teachers, mothers, and even teens, to take action! No need for big actions. No need to do an open demonstration. No need to attack politicians. Teach the values of integration, fairness, honesty, modesty, and empathy thinking to everyone. Get other people to understand and live these values.

I believe good governance means fairness, transparency, and putting the people’s needs first in all decisions. It involves making policies that serve the greater good and strengthening institutions to be more responsible and responsive to the community. ASEAN should promote good governance by empowering local communities and ensuring that every voice, especially those from vulnerable groups, is represented in policymaking discussions. This way, we can foster a culture of trust, fairness, and unity across the region.

Good governance means leadership that is transparent, accountable, inclusive, and guided by integrity. It’s not just about policies—it’s about people. Good governance ensures that the views of the public are solicited and decisions are made in their best interest. Good governance creates trust between citizens and institutions, and lays the foundation for peace, prosperity, and progress.

ASEAN should uphold good governance by encouraging youth participation in policymaking and supporting open platforms for civic engagement. By investing in education, digital transparency, and anti-corruption initiatives, ASEAN can build a culture where fairness and accountability become the norm. Most importantly, ASEAN should celebrate and amplify local stories of good governance—because change begins at the community level, and every act of ethical leadership matters.