eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN connects young volunteers with civil society organisations and social enterprises to design and carry out community projects. ASEAN Foundation and Maybank Foundation run the annual programme for young citizens of ASEAN Member States.
Participants join skills-building activities, mentorship and field-based collaboration across selected Southeast Asian countries. The programme’s themes cover arts and culture, community empowerment, education and environmental diversity.
Benefits & funding
- The official Cohort 6 call describes the programme as fully funded.
- Selected volunteers travel to participating ASEAN countries and work on community projects with regional partners.
- Participants receive mentorship and targeted skills-building sessions.
- The programme offers regional networking and leadership experience.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be 19–35 years old.
- Applicants must be citizens of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste or Viet Nam.
- Applicants must reside in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand or Viet Nam.
- Applicants must have volunteering or organisational-work experience or exposure; no minimum number of years is stated.
- Applicants must be able to communicate in written and spoken English and travel within ASEAN.
- No education-level or gender restriction is stated.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Brunei · Cambodia · Indonesia · Laos · Malaysia · Myanmar · Philippines · Singapore · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Vietnam
Residence required
Cambodia · Indonesia · Laos · Malaysia · Philippines · Singapore · Thailand · Vietnam
Age requirement
19–35 yrs
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Check the current cohort page and its application information package when the next round opens.
- 2Complete the official registration route and submit the required application materials before the stated deadline.
- 3Wait for the selection update; only shortlisted applicants are notified and interviewed.
Program timeline
Cohort 6 application deadline; registration is closed.
25 January 2026, 23:59 GMT+7
Dates not published
Shortlist notifications, interviews, programme start and programme end.
Next application round
Official opening date not announced.