PH to spearhead Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA)

National Youth Commission (NYC) chairperson Undersecretary Carina “Aiza” Seguerra (Photo by By King Rodriguez / PPD – Presidential Communications Operations Office, Public Domain)

MANILA, Aug. 7 – On the sixth day of the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, National Youth Commission (NYC) chairperson Undersecretary Carina “Aiza” Seguerra hailed today the first ever youth-centered, ASEAN Leaders Interface with the Youth, which resulted in a document that outlined the aspiration to breathe life to the ASEAN work plan for the youth.

Speaking before members of the media during a press briefing at the Conrad Luxury Hotel in Pasay City, Seguerra expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the ASEAN secretariat, particularly to the committee for permanent representatives in the ASEAN, for their trust and confidence in allowing the Philippines to spearhead the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA).

“To us, it was not only an awesome experience but also a milestone to the youth to make them aware that we are serious in doing our part in addressing youth issues and concerns,” Seguerra said.

“We may not have instantaneous solutions on climate change, education, employment, health, participation, global mobility and the like but we have the energy.

We have the enthusiasm, passion, commitment and dedication to pursue programs, projects and advocacies where other people can draw inspiration from to create, innovate and affect positive changes that can immensely contribute to the development of the ASEAN community where we all come from,” Seguerra added.

Seguerra also bared the ISEA awards where each ASEAN Youth Social Entrapreneur Awardee (AYSEA) will receive a trophy and $5,000 in cash that should be spent as additional funds for the social enterprises that they started.

The ISEA awards is part of the grand anniversary celebration of the 50^th Founding Anniversary of ASEAN.

Seguerra is hopeful the ASEAN conference rekindles the fire in making the youth self-reliant and self-sufficient aside from giving them chance to mobilize and make an impact in the region.

“Let us journey on this together and go beyond diplomatic rhetoric,” Seguerra said.