As future leaders, today’s youth bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas and a deep understanding of the challenges that their generation face. Their voices are vital in crafting policies that are inclusive, forward-thinking, and reflective of the diverse needs of society.
By actively engaging in policy discussions, young people have the power to influence decisions that will shape their futures, ensuring that their unique insights contribute to building a more equitable, sustainable and just world.
SHAPING GLOBAL ACTIONS
As such, youth empowerment lies at the heart of the European Union (EU) Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen’s vision. This vision reflects the EU’s commitment to ensuring that young voices are not just heard, but actively shape its external actions.
The Youth Sounding Board represents a transformative approach, striving to embed the perspectives of young people into the core of EU development cooperation.
This initiative is about more than just consultation; it is a bold step towards creating enduring change in how the EU engages with its younger generation, empowering them to play a pivotal role in shaping policies that impact their futures.
AMPLIFYING YOUNG VOICES
A historic milestone was achieved on August 26 in Jakarta, Indonesia, as the EU launched its inaugural Youth Sounding Board for EU ASEAN (YSBEA), ushering in a new chapter of youth involvement in shaping regional policies. This landmark moment signifies a fresh era of collaboration, where the voices of young leaders will resonate more powerfully within the corridors of decision-making across Southeast Asia.
This dynamic cohort, comprising 10 youth representatives from ASEAN and one from Timor-Leste, will serve as a crucial advisory group to the EU delegation for the 2024-2025 period.
Their mission is clear: to make the EU’s actions more relevant and impactful for the younger generation across ASEAN and Timor-Leste, while fostering deeper youth involvement in EU-ASEAN cooperation. Selected from a pool of over 400 applicants, this cohort reflects the region’s brightest young minds, ready to shape a future that truly resonates with their generation’s aspirations.
According to Ambassador of the EU to ASEAN Sujiro Seam, the selection of YSBEA members is an acknowledgement of their outstanding leadership qualities and impressive achievements, and the YSBEA will provide a consultative space and platform for the youth to strengthen the EU’s strategic partnership with ASEAN.
“YSBEA participation will make the actions of the EU more relevant and effective for young people,” said the ambassador.
“Young people make up a third of the population of the ASEAN region. Young people are change-makers and essential partners in ensuring the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
“Youth have an important role to play in deciding the future of this region: to build a better future that is greener, more inclusive and digital. YSBEA members’ participation reflects their testament and commitment to make a difference,’’ the ambassador added.
BRUNEI’S YOUTH VOICE
Representing Brunei in the YSBEA is Norfatinafina binti Md Afandi, affectionately known as Fina, a 24-year-old Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) graduate in sociology and anthropology with a fervent commitment to gender equality, particularly within the rich and diverse societies of Southeast Asia.
Fina’s selection to join the YSBEA for the 2024-2025 period places her alongside fellow youth leaders from all ten ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste.
Together, they will play a central role in amplifying youth voices and enhancing engagement in EU-ASEAN cooperation by providing valuable insights as a youth advisory group to the EU delegation.
Through the forum, Fina hopes to explore ways to overcome both policy and cultural barriers to gender equality, while gaining insights into sparking meaningful social change.
As a passionate advocate, she sees ASEAN’s diversity as a unique strength, capable of driving progress in ongoing gender equality discussions across the region.
“I want to see how it unfolds,” Fina remarked.
“Joining YSBEA allows me to connect with like-minded individuals and gain valuable insights, which could contribute to the future development of women’s empowerment in Brunei,” she added.
Despite outperforming their male counterparts at all educational levels, from primary to tertiary, women in Brunei Darussalam continue to hold relatively low leadership and decision-making roles in both the public and private sectors.
SHAPING ASEAN’S FUTURE
During a courtesy call with YSBEA members, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Nararya S Soeprapto highlighted the critical role youth play in regional development, noting that youth made up 34 per cent of ASEAN’s population in 2020, with potential growth ahead.
ASEAN, he stressed, is committed to harnessing this potential, as reflected in the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Development of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision.
Adopted at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in May 2023, the statement calls for empowering youth to shape the region’s future, recognising their role as key drivers of growth. The YSBEA will significantly impact EU external actions and partnerships, focusing on climate change, human development, and other critical issues.
Over the next two years, the youth leaders will engage in online and offline consultations with the EU delegation to ASEAN, shaping policies on climate, energy, digital infrastructure, gender equality, migration, peace and sustainable growth.
On a global scale, YSBEA is one of 30 Youth Sounding Boards established by EU delegations around the world, all of which are part of the EU’s Youth Action Plan (YAP) for external action.
The initiative serves as the EU’s guiding framework to promote meaningful youth participation and empowerment worldwide, with a focus on sustainable development, equality, and peace.
Centred around three core pillars – Engage, Connect and Empower – the YAP is a timely and bold endeavour to elevate youth voices in shaping the future of EU external actions.
