VIETNAM — Ms. Atitaya Phoemphon, a Master’s student in the Development and Sustainability (DS) program within the Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development (FPSD) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), studying under the supervision of Dr. Duanghathai Buranajaroenkij, has recently completed her deployment as a Youth Volunteer in the eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN (eYAA) Cohort 6 Program in Da Nang and Hoi An, Vietnam. This regional fellowship brought together 11 emerging youth leaders from across ASEAN member states to collaborate with local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on sustainable community development.
This immersive two-week field deployment directly bridges Ms. Atitaya’s academic foundation in Development and Sustainability (DS) at AIT with practical, grassroots execution. Working alongside Catalyst for Change Vietnam (C4C Vietnam) on the “Her Space” initiative, she contributed to community-based communications, youth-led workshops, and economic empowerment strategies for local single mothers. By witnessing how participatory development, active listening, and evidence-based stakeholder engagement operate on the ground, she enriches her master’s research with tangible, cross-cultural insights. This exposure effectively transforms classroom theory into actionable expertise, equipping her with the strategic media and community-engagement skills needed to drive inclusive, sustainable development across the region.
Ms. Atitaya shared that her journey—which involved co-creating digital storytelling campaigns for @behind.herspace., facilitating English learning sessions, conducting qualitative beneficiary interviews, and promoting local single mothers’ social enterprises—deepened her understanding of sustainable policy implementation. She emphasized that true development administration relies on empathy, local dignity, and cross-border solidarity. Participating in multi-stakeholder dialogues with ASEAN youth and local community leaders inspired her to see how empowering vulnerable groups at the grassroots level creates long-term institutional resilience.
The eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN (eYAA) Program is a flagship regional initiative by the Maybank Foundation in partnership with the ASEAN Foundation. It aims to empower youth aged 19–35 across all ASEAN member states to create meaningful, sustainable social impact through capacity building and hands-on community projects.
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