A story that is too late to tell but it doesn’t stop me for sharing this one to the readers.
Hi everyone, first of all allow me to introduce myself. My name is Arbi Wijaya. I am currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree as economic development student in 7th semester at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta. So, lets start the story about my journey to be the ambassador at ASEAN Youth Organization.
ASEAN Youth Organization (AYO) is a youth-led community that comprises more than 450,000 Southeast Asian youths and registered as a Foundation in Jakarta, Indonesia. AYO spreads awareness of ASEAN to over 200 million young people in Southeast Asia through many programs and also empower youth to take action and engage local communities to implement impact-driven ideas/projects that create better changes.
Right at the beginning of 2020, AYO opened the opportunity for youths in ASEAN as ambassador. Then, I registered myself as a candidate of AYO ambassador. Certainly, the process wasn’t easy, starting from administration selection to the question stage through making video about ASEAN by the candidate of ambassadors. Well, step by step I have been through it all.
Almost a year ago, AYO received more than 1000 applications across ASEAN countries, only 100 ambassadors were selected to the program, and only 71 ambassadors have survived until the program ended. Finally, I can be entrusted by the ASEAN Youth Organization as one of its ambassadors. I received an official notification as ASEAN Youth Organization Ambassador through email. In order to improve the quality of the chosen ambassadors, I was given many training programs as well as challenges in the form of making projects to have an impact according to target issues. The online training programs that have been provided were carried out periodically from April to September 2020 with super amazing & insightful speakers which came from over AYO counterparts such as ASEAN, ASEAN Secretariat, UNDP, One Young World, APAC Universum and XYZ@Work, Dana Indonesia, Matahari Kecil Indonesia Foundation, World Assembly of Youth, NCTP Secretariat of Cambodia, etc. These training programs were raised several topics such as AYO & leadership; EU ASEAN Cooperations; Desaign Thinking; Problem Solving and Critical Thinking; Public Speaking; Project Management; Harmonising The Multigenerational Workforce; Increasing The Productivity and Efficiency of Working From Home in a Pandemic Time; Commemorating the ASEAN Day, Why is the Tourism Sector Important for ASEAN and How is Covid-19 Affecting it?; and other tasks or case study test.
Although in midst of the Covid-19 pandemic that is still outspread in ASEAN countries, these training sessions have made all ambassadors aware that there are still many key issues that must be solved by the youths in ASEAN. Not only that, but all ambassadors were also required to create impactful projects for at least until the training sessions ended.
As a part of ambassador, I created some projects through some ways. There were infographic, video, and webinar session related to financial literacy, plastic waste, and entrepreneurship.
First, I made infographic content by topic “Financial Literacy : Understanding & Determining Financial Decisions For a Better Life” and also did the interview with Indonesia’s Financial Inclusion Ambassador. I hope that people especially millenials can understand in financial products & services through financial literacy learning in Indonesia & people can optimize their finances for productive activities in the future. This infographic was supported by the ASEAN Youth Organization, DIKA Indonesia, @third.ly @_beinghumans.
Second, I produced video content by topic “Menjaga Bumi Pertiwi Tidak Akan Tenggelam Sampah Plastik Sendiri”. With regard to this problem, I conducted a video content on environtmental issue related to plastic waste in order to provide insight & raise awareness to all people in world and Indonesia so that it is expected that later us all can grow our heart and mind to give more awareness about plastic waste and its danger for our lives.
Third, I created Entrepeneurship Talk by topic “How Millenials Can Be Young Entrepreneur?”. I conducted this webinar session on entrepreneurship in order to provide insight, knowledge, early experience to millennials and others by presenting competent and experienced young entrepreneurs as speakers in their field, so that it is expected that later millennials can spring up their soul of entrepreneurship in their respective ways. This webinar was supported by the ASEAN Youth Organization, and the owner of @daprojects_, @tengilsnack, @zealotshop.
For the information, all projects and activities that I have done will be assessed by AYO, so not all selected ambassadors will get a certificate of completion as long as be the ambassador.
And at the end of program, I did it !
Maybe I’ve said this before on another media but I will not hesitate to say it again here.
The world is full of viewpoints and life has a million of complete perspectives. As my principle, I must be the one who sees the wider world from more perspectives. It’s because there are so many things in life that can teach me to dare to create best decision.
I’ve started to learn those perspectives & other good things here. I am so glad to still keep in touch with the ASEAN Youth Organization, its team, and also all ambassadors from ASEAN countries. I met more inspiring & awesome people here.
From here, I realized two things. Firstly, the role of youth is important for all aspects in actualizing better changes. Secondly, we guys must be brave to learn, participate, and try something new from the wider world, no matter how big the result is, just keep enjoying the processes to be a better person.
Hopefully the journey doesn’t end here.
Thank you for all supports until this time,
Keep learning & fighting for everyone!
#Impactlives
#ASEANyouth
