18/08/2025
ASEAN Youth Leaders Find Purpose on the Frontlines of a Climate Disaster
When ten young leaders from across Southeast Asia arrived in La Union in late July 2025, they expected to spend their days teaching environmental literacy, running workshops in schools, and leading community cleanups. The eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) program, organized by CURMA (Coastal Underwater Resource Management Actions) with the ASEAN Foundation and Maybank Foundation, had been designed as an environmental education campaign. The plan was straightforward: work with public schools and train youth ambassadors to lead future conservation initiatives.
But on the day the delegates arrived, Typhoon Emong (Co-may) struck, directly hitting and affecting the province. Roofs were torn from houses, floodwaters surged, and entire communities were displaced. For many of the youth volunteers, it was their first experience of a powerful typhoon. But instead of retreating, they stepped up. Overnight, the program shifted from classroom learning to disaster response.
In the following weeks, these young leaders helped deliver hot meals, distribute relief packs, and clear debris from schools and beaches. They joined local fisherfolk in cleaning the coastline and partnered with SIFCare and other groups to support more than 1,000 families who had lost homes or livelihoods. Their presence turned what was planned as an education initiative into a living lesson on resilience and solidarity.
For Syazwani Abdul Rash*th of Singapore, the experience was transformative. “I applied to this program because I wanted to go beyond studying climate change in a classroom,” she said. “But when the typhoon struck, all our plans changed overnight. What inspired me most was how the community responded. Even though many were directly affected, they were still helping each other, sharing what little they had, and making sure we were safe too. That kind of compassion was deeply humbling.”
The program’s original goal—to boost environmental literacy—remained important, but the typhoon showed the urgency of linking education to lived experience. Climate change, once abstract for some participants, became immediate and personal.
Syazwani described the storm itself as both frightening and grounding. “The wind was howling, the power went out, and there was no pause button. But I saw everyone, from local families to fellow delegates, working together, checking on one another. That’s something I’ll never forget.”
From Indonesia, delegate Andi Zulkarnain echoed the sentiment. For him, being chosen as one of the ten youth representatives was more than an honor, it was a responsibility. “In Indonesia, young people care deeply about the environment, but many lack opportunities to influence policy or lead community solutions,” he said. “This program gave me a chance to bring forward the challenges we face at home, like the loss of mangroves and flooding in coastal villages, and connect them to regional conversations.”
Andi also described the terrifying force of the typhoon: “The sound of the wind was overwhelming, and the sea swelled so close to the community. But what struck me was how quickly people shifted from fear to action—checking on neighbors, preparing supplies, and staying together. That kind of resilience taught me more than any policy report could.”
Andi found his most meaningful encounters in the evacuation centers. “The children there inspired me,” he said. “They face disasters several times a year, yet they still hold on to their dreams. Their courage reminded me that the fight against climate change is about protecting not just the environment, but also the futures of the next generation.”
For delegate Ceajee F. Rosana of the Philippines, the typhoon was both familiar and eye-opening. Having grown up in a country where disastrous storms are frequent, he admitted that his concern during the typhoon was not for himself but for his teammates who were new to such events. Yet what made the most impression on him was the larger lesson it revealed about the climate crisis. “Climate crisis is real and it is here. We always talk about protecting the ‘next generation,’ but the next generation is already here. We are years too late in preparing this generation for the fight against climate change,” he said.
While he admires the resilience of Filipino communities, he cautions against glorifying it without demanding accountability. For him, the storm stressed the urgency of moving beyond performative advocacy and engaging grassroots communities in real climate action before coastlines and communities vanish.
For Syazwani, Andi, Ceajee, and the other youth volunteers, the days after the storm were as defining as the typhoon itself. They helped distribute food, water, and relief goods while coordinating cleanup efforts alongside local volunteers. What could have been a moment of paralysis became a lesson in agency. “Volunteering gave me a sense of purpose amid the chaos,” Syazwani reflected. “Even small actions, like carrying supplies or handing out water, can make a big difference.”
The program’s organizers see these experiences not as setbacks, but as part of its success. By confronting climate impacts directly, the delegates gained deeper insights into why environmental literacy is vital for communities on the frontlines. Research already shows that higher ecological knowledge leads to more decisive climate action.
For the delegates, La Union was not just a host site—it became a classroom, a testing ground, and a call to action. The typhoon may have changed their plans, but it also crystallized their mission: to stand together as young leaders, shaping a future where climate action is urgent and inclusive.
📷 courtesy of Curma
