BACKGROUND
The ASEAN Youth Convergence 2024 is a visionary initiative aiming to inspire, empower, and elevate the capacities of participating youths in fostering the ASEAN spirit and advancing regional cooperation and integration. The convergence is designed to bring together the ASEAN Prize Recipients (APRs) from 2021 to 2023 and youth delegates from ASEAN Member States (AMS) in a dynamic event.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
- Inspire Future Leaders: Showcase the exemplary journey, achievements, and advocacies of APRs, fostering inspiration and serving as benchmarks for youth leaders.
- Promote Civic Engagement: Encourage youth to take action on issues that matter to their communities, contributing to transformative and meaningful change.
- Foster Stakeholder Understanding: Provide participants with a hands-on experience in understanding stakeholder dynamics, effective communication, and consensus-building.
PARTICIPANTS
Anticipating a diverse and dynamic assembly, the event targets to have a participation of 30 selected youths aged between 19 and 35, representing various Southeast Asian countries.
Participant Selection: For interested youths, they must submit their applications which meet the following requirements:
- Age range: Applicants should fall within the age bracket of 19 to 35 years.
- Geographical Eligibility: Youth participants must hail from Southeast Asian countries
- Diverse Backgrounds: The event will welcome participants from various walks of life, including those engaged in arts and culture, community building, education, and environmental initiatives.
- Passion for Impact: A key criterion is a demonstrable passion for contributing to community building efforts, rural development, economic empowerment, sustainable development, regional cooperation and integration, and the environmental causes.
FORMAT
The event consists of three main parts: a Pre-Convergence Activity, Symposium, and the Youth Conference.
A. Pre-Convergence Activity (Online)
(1) Meet and Greet
Youth delegates will be convened online at least a week before the event for a meet and greet session where they will be provided with instructions, including their pre-event assignment, administrative reminders, and logistical notes for their participation in the event. It is a chance for participants to break the ice, establish initial connections, and foster a sense of community or camaraderie.
(2) Introduction to “Letters to Leaders”
Youth delegates will be encouraged to communicate their thoughts, ideas, and concerns directly to influential leaders within the ASEAN community. The exercise aims to open doors for networking and collaboration between the younger generation and established leaders, fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility for regional development.
B. ASEAN Prize Symposium 2024
The activity will coincide with the ASEAN Prize Symposium 2024, giving youth delegates the opportunity to participate in a broader discourse.
The ASEAN Prize Symposium is a flagship programme aimed to promote the ASEAN Prize and its role in fostering ASEAN Community building. This year, the event intends to bring together ASEAN Prize Recipients (APRs) from 2021 to 2023 in a discussion platform for showcasing their exemplary contributions and sharing their journey and aspiration upon receiving the ASEAN Prize.
ASEAN Prize Symposium 2024 will highlight and share the respective achievements and advocacies of the APRs, serving as inspirational benchmarks and guiding principles for the targeted audiences, including professionals, academicians/ think tank, organizations and entities, business communities, media as well as aspiring youth leaders. This platform encourages emulation and introspection, allowing participants and emerging leaders to draw valuable insights and take stock of the impactful contributions made by the APRs in their respective fields.
C. Youth Conference
The conference, happening a day after the ASEAN Prize Symposium 2024, will feature interactive exercises including the following:
(1) Lighting Talks: This segment will provide a platform for concise, impactful presentations by the APRs on matters related to their expertise/advocacy.
(2) ASEAN Café: Following the Lightning Talks, participants move to the ASEAN Café area for networking and interactive discussions. The ASEAN Café provides an informal space for participants to digest the insights from the Lightning Talks and engage in deeper conversations.
(3) Stakeholder Engagement Exercise: The Stakeholder Engagement Exercise within the Youth Convergence aims to provide participants with a hands-on experience in understanding and navigating the complexities of stakeholder relationships. By immersing themselves in various roles, participants will gain insights into the perspectives of different stakeholders, fostering empathy, effective communication, and collaborative problem-solving.
(4) Letters to Leaders Showcase: The Letters to Leaders Showcase provides a tangible and impactful way to bring the voices of the youth at the forefront of the conference. It aims to foster a deeper understanding of the concerns, aspirations, and perspectives of the youth within the ASEAN community.
IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS
Supported by the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Youth (SOMY) and through ASEAN Youth Programme Fund (AYPF), the Youth Convergence is implemented by MI.
DOWNLOAD and LINKS
- ASEAN Youth Convergence Concept Note and Provisional Agenda
- ASEAN Prize Symposium Presentations by ASEAN Prize Recipients:
1. “Youth Leadership and Volunteerism” by Mr. Haji Muhammad Iqbal Fakhri bin Haji Damit, ASEAN Prize Recipient 2022
2. “Empowering Women in Socio-Economic Development by Madam Minh” by Madam Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, ASEAN Prize Recipient 2023
3. “Fostering the Regional Cooperation and Integration by Mekong Institute” by Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, ASEAN Prize Recipient 2021 - ASEAN Youth Conference Pess Release
- ASEAN Youth Convergence Delegates Handbook
- ASEAN Prize Event Photos
- ASEAN Youth Conference Event Photos