How can ASEAN alleviate human trafficking between member states? How can ASEAN pursue its aspiration of a drug-free region? How can ASEAN leverage new and innovative digital technologies to foster economic growth? Along with renewable energy, global competitiveness, skilled labour and healthcare accessibility, these were the issues discussed at the S Rajaratnam Endowment-Youth Model ASEAN Conference (SRE-YMAC) 2017 held at Singapore Polytechnic from 1 to 5 October 2017.

Supported by Temasek Foundation Connects, SRE-YMAC 2017 is a simulation of an ASEAN conference, where youth leaders from all ten ASEAN member states take on the role of diplomats to address current political, economic, environmental, social and cultural issues facing the region.

The year 2017 saw ASEAN celebrate its 50th anniversary. Ambassador-at-Large, Professor Chan Heng Chee, guest speaker at SRE-YMAC 2017 believes that “in the next 50 years of ASEAN, we must make ASEAN meaningful to everyone. And it starts with young people.” This common understanding united 200 tertiary students from all ten ASEAN countries to address the conference’s theme to strive for “Ten as One”.

Under the mentorship of faculty advisers and alumni who took part in the previous years of SRE-YMAC, participants worked together to brainstorm solutions to drive positive change that they desire to see in ASEAN. The resulting insights and declarations will feed into the next SRE-YMAC in 2018, where Singapore assumes ASEAN chairmanship. The participating youths reflected that they felt a greater sense of community and empowerment and forged deeper friendships as they opened up their minds and hearts to one another to develop broader views of realities and possibilities in ASEAN.

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About the S Rajaratnam Endowment-Youth Model ASEAN Conference

The S Rajaratnam Endowment-Youth Model ASEAN Conference, held annually since 2012, aims to facilitate a better understanding of ASEAN issues, create a greater sense of community and connectivity among the ASEAN youths, and provide a platform to encourage ASEAN youths to participate and contribute to solutions towards ASEAN issues. The participants also go on a series of immersive learning journeys to various institutions in Singapore to foster a deeper understanding of issues. The annual conference is named after the S Rajaratnam Endowment which comes under the purview of Temasek Foundation Connects.

About Temasek Foundation Connects

Temasek Foundation Connects is one of the six non-profit philanthropic organisations set up by Temasek and sponsored through Temasek Trust.

Temasek Foundation Connects funds and supports programmes that seek to build bridges and partnerships, and to promote dialogue and mutual understanding across international communities and markets. These programmes advance collective knowledge and mutual understanding in key areas that are important to Singapore and on a global front. These include various issues such as security, geopolitics and economic imperatives of emerging markets, as well as best practices in areas such as corporate governance and stewardship.

Did you know?

The ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) was signed by ASEAN leaders at the 27th ASEAN Summit in November 2015. It is a legally binding instrument that seeks to prevent and suppress trafficking in people, protect victims and promote cooperation among ASEAN member states.

A video about the importance of fighting human trafficking, created for discussion at SRE-YMAC 2017, was submitted to the ASEAN Youth Video Competition: “ASEAN Against Trafficking: Humans are Not for Sale!” organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The video was the Singapore National Winner and the First Runner-Up for the Regional Competition. You can watch the video here.