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Building stronger communities goes beyond creating jobs or responding to disasters. It also means equipping young people with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to become active changemakers in their own communities.
That vision is at the heart of eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN (eYAA): Cohort 6, a regional initiative supported by the ASEAN Foundation and Maybank Foundation. This year's program highlights how youth-led projects can address two pressing issues facing the Philippines today: expanding livelihood opportunities through tourism and strengthening climate resilience in vulnerable communities.
With projects set to roll out across Southeast Asia, the Philippines will showcase two community-driven initiatives that empower young people in Palawan and La Union to create meaningful local impact.
eYAA Cohort 6 Brings Together ASEAN's Next Generation of Changemakers
Held from July 2 to 6, 2026, at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, the Regional Capacity Building Workshop gathered 110 youth volunteers along with representatives from civil society organizations and social enterprises across ASEAN.
The workshop serves as a launchpad for 10 community projects that will be implemented across Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.
This year's cohort also marks two important milestones.
For the first time, Lao PDR joins the program as an implementing country, while Timor-Leste's accession as ASEAN's 11th Member State has expanded participation from 100 to 110 youth volunteers.
Adding to its significance, 2026 has also been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026), highlighting the growing importance of volunteerism in advancing sustainable development goals across the region.
Opening Doors to Tourism Careers in Palawan
Tourism remains one of the Philippines' biggest economic drivers, yet many young people living near popular destinations continue to face barriers to employment.
In Puerto Princesa City, the "Y.E.S. We Can! Youth Empowerment Series" seeks to address this challenge by helping disadvantaged youth prepare for careers in hospitality and tourism.
Led by Filipino Hospitality Management and Consultancy, the project offers:
- Hospitality skills training
- Digital skills for tourism
- Entrepreneurship workshops
- Accelerated micro-credential courses
- Job placement support
The initiative is designed to benefit more than 1,200 participants directly, including hospitality students, underserved youth, and aspiring entrepreneurs, while extending its reach to thousands more through digital learning.
Beyond technical training, the project encourages young people to build careers that contribute to local tourism while supporting broader goals of quality education and decent work.
Helping Communities Prepare for Climate Challenges
While Palawan focuses on economic opportunities, La Union is tackling another growing concern: climate resilience.
Following the devastating impact of consecutive super typhoons in 2025, many communities continue rebuilding while preparing for future disasters.
To strengthen local readiness, CURMA Group Inc. is implementing the "Climate Resilient Communities" project.
The initiative will train 100 youth leaders and community representatives as Climate Resilience First Responders through practical instruction in:
- Disaster preparedness
- Psychological first aid
- Environmental stewardship
- Community-based climate action
The program also supports livelihood development for coastal families while establishing permanent educational resources at the CURMA Center.
Overall, the project aims to directly benefit 3,000 residents, with broader outreach through community engagement and digital campaigns.
Collaboration Across ASEAN
One of eYAA's defining strengths is its collaborative approach.
Rather than introducing one-size-fits-all solutions, the program brings together local organizations that understand the unique needs of their communities while pairing them with youth volunteers from across Southeast Asia.
According to Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation, every project begins with local expertise, allowing volunteers to work alongside communities as partners rather than outsiders.
Meanwhile, Maybank Foundation, which has supported the initiative since 2018, continues providing grants of up to USD 25,000 for project teams.
Group Chief Sustainability Officer Datuk Shahril Azuar Jimin emphasized that young volunteers have consistently demonstrated their ability to transform ideas into meaningful community impact while advancing the foundation's broader sustainability goals.
Strengthening Youth Leadership Beyond the Program
This year's cohort also introduces new opportunities for past participants to remain actively involved.
Alongside the existing Alumni as Mentors initiative, eYAA has launched the Alumni Accelerator Programme, providing grants of up to USD 2,500 to alumni-led community projects.
These initiatives allow experienced volunteers to continue mentoring future participants while expanding the program's long-term impact across ASEAN.
Since its launch, eYAA has:
- Empowered 482 youth volunteers
- Completed 50 community projects
- Directly benefited more than 114,000 individuals across Southeast Asia
Investing in the Next Generation of Community Leaders
As communities continue adapting to economic uncertainty and climate-related challenges, initiatives like eYAA demonstrate the value of investing in young people as future leaders.
Whether by preparing disadvantaged youth for careers in tourism or equipping communities with practical disaster response skills, the program shows how locally driven solutions can create lasting change.
For the Philippines, the projects in Palawan and La Union highlight how empowering young people today can help build stronger, more resilient communities for the years ahead.