11th ASEAN Youth Forum Closing Ceremony

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Friday, 19 Muharram 1443H corresponding to 27 August 2021.

The 11th ASEAN Youth Forum, held virtually for over (6) days starting from the 7th until 27th of August 2021, has finally come to an end, leaving an impactful footprint for delegates to continue to be more proactive in addressing issues in education, employment and the roles of youth within the community. The highlight at the closing ceremony was the presentation of the ASEAN Youth Statement to AMMY Leaders and ASEAN Secretary-General.

Under the theme “Future Ready in the New Normal”, this edition of the forum was aimed at formulating ideas and recommendations on how to  elevate the role of ASEAN youth in realising sustainable development and ensuring preparedness of ASEAN youth for future challenges such as the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and opportunities such as entrepreneurship with regards to the new normal and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The forum was held virtually using ‘Zoom’, a web platform.

Prior to the closing ceremony, the delegates had a series of forums and workshops, with ASEAN heavyweights who have made a tremendous impact at communal, regional and/or international level. Over the course of two (2) weeks, the delegates worked tirelessly together to produce an official ASEAN Youth Statement and ASEAN Zine, a publication containing a collection of creative substances compiled and produced by the delegates of the Forum.

The closing ceremony commenced with a few welcoming remarks by Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Awang Haji Ash’ari, Member of the Legislative Council Brunei Darussalam and the President of the Brunei Youth Council (BYC). 

The event was followed by the presentation of the official ASEAN Youth Statement, recited by Norman Sim, delegate from Malaysia and Do Linh Anh, delegate from Vietnam. 

Next up,  a question and answer (Q&A) session was held with AMMY Leader from Brunei Darussalam, AMMY Leader from Cambodia, a representative from AMMY Malaysia  and the ASEAN Secretary - General where ASEAN delegates asked a series of questions which were addressed by the AMMY Leaders. The session was moderated by Ak Md Nukman Syawqi bin Pg Md Salimin, Director for Administration cum Co-Director for Research and Education, ASEAN Youth Advocates Network Brunei (AYAN). 

To conclude the event, the announcement of the ASEAN Youth Forum Best Delegates Award was made for delegates who were awarded for their proactive contribution during the forum. 

This 11th edition was co-organised by Brunei Youth Council (BYC) and ASEAN Youth Advocates Network Brunei (AYAN), supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Brunei (MCYS). This forum was organised to support ASEAN Chairmanship of Brunei Darussalam for 2021, and it was open to citizens of ASEAN Member States, aged between 18 and 30 years old.

Article by Majlis Belia Brunei.