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Overview

Overview
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Overview

Project 4th ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS4)

Official youth event in support of the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit (ASEM13)

Theme Sustainable Development in a Post-COVID-19 World

Timings 10-month long youth leadership programme

Monday, 22 February 2021 until the end of November 2021

Background The ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS) is a platform that connects young people with the
on the Heads of States and Governments of 51 Asian & European countries and the political Leaders
ASEFYLS of the EU & the ASEAN Secretariat. Held biennially as the official youth event in support of Asia-
Series
Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summits, the ASEFYLS is a thought & action arena for young people
with a 360 approach on leadership development and community engagement: from a self,
team and societal perspective.
See what the ASEFYLS is all about in this trailer!

5 Pillars of ASEFYLS

1 2 3 4 5
Building Reciprocity Diversity of Leadership Collaboration
Knowledge Network Dialogue
Knowledge Peer-to-peer Space to create Personal dialogues Commitment to
foundation and learning and partnerships and exchanges collaborate on
toolkit for action to sharing of time, across sectors: with Heads of “Leadership in
gain rewarding talent & youth, community States and political Action” activities on
insights and to resources for leaders, leaders on sustainable
inspire both personal growth responsible leadership development in
recognised and in a team business leaders, principles & ethical local communities
unsung young environment thought-provoking decision- making
leaders academics and towards the
political leaders Agenda2030
across 51
countries

Upcoming The 4th ASEF Young Leaders Summit (ASEFYLS4) is a 10-month long youth leadership
Edition: programme connected with the 13th ASEM Summit (ASEM13) in Cambodia. The ASEFYLS4
ASEFYLS4 focuses on ‘Sustainable Development in a post-COVID-19 World’ and incorporates 3
spheres for youth leadership:
1) self-leadership (you), 2) team leadership (we) and 3) societal leadership (all).

The 4th edition will be a hybrid project with collaborative programme elements taking place
virtually, in Cambodia & Singapore, as well as across ASEM countries. The project addresses
4 thematic areas:
1. SDG3: Good Health & Wellbeing: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all
ages
2. SDG4: Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all
3. SDG8: Decent Work & Economic Growth: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable
economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
4. SDG13: Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
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Overview

These goals are selected based on significant areas of impact the COVID-19 crisis have had
on young people, the learnings from the current crisis they can bring to the discussion table,
and areas in which they can contribute to, with an aim to build a more resilient society.

The ASEFYLS4 consists of 3 Programme Phases:

1. Knowledge Building: Mon, 22 February 2021 - Fri, 28 May 2021, Virtual

2. Youth Summit at the 13th ASEM Summit: Sat, 29 May 2021 - Wed, 2 June 2021,
On-site in Cambodia/Virtual*
3. Leadership in Action: June - November 2021, Virtual & On-site in local ASEM
communities
The ASEFYLS4 welcomes up to 150 youth leaders from diverse academic disciplines and
professional backgrounds, who are selected through an Open Call for Application process.
ASEF’s programmes are inclusive and ensure a gender and geographical balance. We do
not discriminate against any applicant or participant based on gender, sexual orientation,
disability, age, colour, ethnicity/race, national origin (ancestry), religion (creed), or marital
status.

The ASEFYLS4 is organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation, the Ministry of Foreign and
International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia (MFAIC), the Ministry of Education,
Youth and Sport of the Kingdom of Cambodia (MOEYS), the Ministry of Commerce of the
Kingdom of Cambodia, and the APSARA National Authority of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Our project partners are: the Union Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC), College of
Europe in Natolin, and the Center for Creative Leadership.
Our project supporters are: Global Changemakers, Erasmus Student Network (ESN),
European Students Union (ESU), International Association For Political Science Students
(IAPSS).
ASEF’s contribution is made possible with the financial support of the European Union.

*Pending local and international public health & safety guidelines, as well as travel recommendations.

Project Cycle

Details on About 150 youth representatives – at least 1 representative of each 51 ASEM Partner
Programme country – are selected through an Asia-Europe wide Open Call to join the ASEFYLS4, which
Phases is built on 3 Programme Phases.
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Overview

1) Knowledge Building (22 February – 28 May 2021)

Through e-learning and virtual collaboration platforms, the ASEFYLS4 Knowledge Building
phase fuses theory, training and policy and integrates 4 elements:
1. Thematic Course with a certificate of participation, focusing on Asia-Europe
and international relations in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals
(SGD3, 4, 8 & 13), led by College of Europe in Natolin in partnership with ASEF
2. A Leadership Training with a certificate of participation, exploring Self, Team
& Societal leadership, led by the Center for Creative Leadership in partnership
with ASEF
3. Youth Dialogues with ASEM Leaders (Heads of States and Governments) on
the SDGs, moderated by ASEFYLS4 participants
4. Focus Group Discussions & Collaboration on leadership, the SDGs & the
Leadership in Action projects, led by ASEFYLS4 Navigators.
Find out more about the Knowledge Building programme here.

2) ASEFYLS4 Youth Summit (29 May – 2 June 2021)

The Youth Summit will either take place fully virtually, or should local and international
health, safety and travel guidelines allow – as a hybrid event with both virtual as well as on-
site programme elements in Cambodia alongside the 13th ASEM Summit.
In both cases, the Youth Summit will include Expert sessions, discussion forums and
workshops on the SDGs, including local case studies from Cambodia. One-to-one meetings
between ASEFYLS4 participants and political leaders are planned. Four ASEFYLS4
participants will present an ASEM Youth Declaration on “Sustainable Development in a post-
COVID-19 world” at the Opening Ceremony of the 13th ASEM Summit (Declaration examples
from ASEFYLS1, ASEFYLS2 and ASEFYLS3).

3) Leadership in Action (June – November 2021)

The ASEFYLS4 encourages participants to demonstrate the youth’s role in driving
Sustainable Development and collaborate on meaningful community projects with an Asia-
Europe twist. Based on the four ASEFYLS4 focus areas (SDG3, SDG4, SDG8 and SDG13),
participants will be allocated to specific working groups and contribute to “Leadership in
Action” activities, taking place from June to November 2021.
In total, the ASEFYLS4 supports 15 local community projects, each led by 1 ASEFYLS4
Navigator. Read more about them here.

Prior to the ASEFYLS4 programme, ASEF conducted a capacity building training, the
ASEFYLS4 Navigators Programme. The “Navigators” are alumni from ASEFEdu and partner
organisations who will join the 3 ASEFYLS4 phases as resource persons and design & guide
the phase 3 activities with likeminded Asian & European youth in local communities.

Upon completion all 3 phases of the 4th ASEF Young Leaders Summit, each participant
will receive a Certificate jointly issued by ASEF and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation (MFAIC) of Cambodia, for their participation in the 4th
ASEF Young Leaders Summit and contribution to the 13th ASEM Summit (ASEM13).

Impact and ASEFYLS1 Video

References

ASEFYLS2 Video

ASEFYLS3 Video
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Overview

Tangible outcomes:
• An ‘ASEM Youth Report’ showcasing perceptions by young people on leadership
opportunities and practices, based on a survey with youth across the 51 ASEM
Partner countries
• 150 participants equipped with certificates of participation, upon completion of
a Thematic Course on Asia-Europe relations in the context of the SDGs,
conducted by College of Europe in Natolin; and a Leadership Training on Self,
Team and Societal Leadership by the Centre of Creative Leadership
• A series of ASEM Youth Dialogues and individual meetings between youth
representatives and ASEM Leaders (Heads of States and Governments), to
facilitate junior-senior leadership conversations and an exchange of
perspectives on the SDGs
• ASEFYLS4 e-learning platform with multi-media materials to learn about ASEM,
youth leadership and Sustainable Development post-COVID19
• ASEM Youth Declaration on “ASEM Youth Leadership driving Sustainable
Development in a Post-COVID-19 world” delivered at the ASEM13 Summit
• 15 Leadership in Action community activities led by youth volunteers, to
promote and drive sustainable development across ASEM’s local communities

Intangible outcomes:
• Increased understanding and knowledge on the Sustainable Development and
Youth Leadership through formal, non-formal and informal education and
training opportunities
• Skills development and capacity building for young people, both on a technical
and soft skill level
• Creation of an Asia-Europe youth network for joint volunteering and
collaboration on the SDGs
• Engagement of civil society stakeholders in the official ASEM Process through
participation of at 4 Youth Representatives in ASEM13
• Enhanced knowledge among the participants and increase visibility on Asia-
Europe relations and ASEM

These results feed into:

• 13th ASEM Summit (ASEM13), 1-2 June 2021, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
• 8th ASEM Education Ministers’ Meeting (ASEMME8), tbc 2021, Thailand
• 15th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEMFMM15), tbc 2022, tbc Asia

In the long-term, the impact of ASEFYLS4 is two-fold:

• An enhanced Structured Dialogue between young people and political leaders
to engage youth in the ASEM Process
• Enhanced connectivity among Asian and European youth through peer-to-peer
exchange and joint volunteering & collaborations
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Overview

ASEF & The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) is an intergovernmental not-

Contact for-profit organisation located in Singapore. Founded in 1997, it is
Details the only institution of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). ASEF
promotes understanding, strengthens relationships and facilitates
cooperation among the people, institutions and organisations of
Asia and Europe. ASEF enhances dialogue, enables exchanges
and encourages collaboration across the thematic areas of
culture, education, governance, economy, sustainable
development, public health and media

Asia-Europe Partnerships: Participation:

Foundation (ASEF) Ms Leonie NAGARAJAN Ms Freya CHOW-PAUL
www.ASEF.org Director Youth Project Coordinator
Education Department Education Department
31 Heng Mui Keng
E: [email protected] E: [email protected]
Terrace
119595 Singapore