Two Philippine organizations are set to expand opportunities for disadvantaged youth and strengthen community climate resilience through projects under the eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN (eYAA): Cohort 6, an initiative of the ASEAN Foundation and Maybank Foundation.

The projects address two pressing challenges facing the Philippines: creating meaningful employment opportunities for marginalized young people in the tourism sector and preparing communities for the increasing impacts of climate change.

The initiatives were presented during the five-day Regional Capacity Building Workshop held from July 2 to 6 at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, where 110 youth volunteers and representatives from civil society organizations and social enterprises across ASEAN gathered to finalize community projects for implementation.

Expanding opportunities for Filipino youth

In Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Filipino Hospitality Management and Consultancy is implementing “Y.E.S. We Can! Youth Empowerment Series,” a program that equips disadvantaged youth with practical hospitality and tourism skills.

The initiative targets out-of-school youth, orphans, and members of minority communities by providing accelerated micro-credential courses, digital tourism training, entrepreneurship workshops, and job placement support.

The project is expected to directly benefit 1,240 individuals, including 1,000 hospitality students through online learning, 180 youth participants in face-to-face training, and 60 local entrepreneurs. It also aims to reach more than 5,000 indirect beneficiaries and approximately 75,000 people through digital awareness campaigns.

A representative from Filipino Hospitality Management and Consultancy said empowering young people with industry-relevant skills supports both personal development and sustainable economic growth.

“For young people, developing these skills not only enhances economic independence but also significantly contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4 on Quality Education and Goal 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth,” the representative said.

Building climate resilience in La Union

Meanwhile, CURMA Group Inc. is leading the “Climate Resilient Communities” project in La Union to strengthen disaster preparedness and environmental stewardship among local residents.

The initiative will train 100 youth leaders and community representatives as Climate Resilience First Responders, providing practical instruction in disaster preparedness, psychological first aid, environmental conservation, and community-based climate action.

The project also includes livelihood enhancement initiatives for coastal households and the establishment of permanent learning resources at the CURMA Center.

Overall, the program is expected to directly benefit 3,000 residents, reach another 5,000 indirect beneficiaries, and engage approximately 50,000 people through digital campaigns.

A representative from CURMA Group Inc. emphasized the importance of strengthening local preparedness as climate-related disasters become more frequent.

“Lack of preparation amongst the people of La Union will result in large economic losses. This can occur on both national and local scales, driving poverty incidence especially in coastal communities as they depend on coastal resources for subsistence,” the representative said.

“By equipping youth and community leaders with practical skills in disaster response and environmental stewardship, we are building long-term resilience from the ground up.”

ASEAN youth collaboration expands

This year’s eYAA program brings together volunteers from across Southeast Asia to implement 10 community projects in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Cohort 6 also marks two milestones for the initiative with the inclusion of Lao PDR as a new implementing country and the participation of Timor-Leste following its accession as ASEAN’s 11th member state, increasing the number of youth volunteers from 100 to 110.

The program coincides with the United Nations’ International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026), highlighting the role of volunteerism in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening resilient communities.

Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation, said the initiative continues to grow through strong local partnerships and community-driven solutions.

“Cohort 6 reflects ASEAN as it is today, with eleven Member States, eight implementing countries, and a generation of young people who are co-designing solutions with local communities rather than simply delivering them,” he said.

Supporting long-term community impact

Since becoming a partner of the ASEAN Foundation in 2018, Maybank Foundation has continued to provide grants of up to US$25,000 for each project team.

Datuk Shahril Azuar Jimin, Group Chief Sustainability Officer of Maybank, said the program enables young volunteers to become catalysts for meaningful community transformation across the region.

This year’s cohort also introduces an Alumni Accelerator Programme, providing grants of up to US$2,500 for alumni-led community initiatives while continuing its Alumni as Mentors program to guide new volunteers.

Since its launch, eYAA has engaged 482 youth volunteers, implemented 50 community projects, and directly benefited more than 114,000 people across ASEAN.

Through initiatives that promote both economic empowerment and climate resilience, the Philippine projects under eYAA Cohort 6 aim to create lasting opportunities for vulnerable communities while strengthening the country’s capacity to face future social and environmental challenges.