Directory: Youth leaders

Aaliyah Hasna holds the belief that the drivers for environmental change are among NGOs and youth groups, as opposed to companies who often give false images on how the climate crisis should be tackled. She has a strong background in international relations and political science, with focus always centered on tackling sustainability and climate change as her niche areas. She has thus performed extensive work in the fight for environmental protection, often in roles where she is able to communicate, coordinate, plan and execute programmes and campaigns to reach out to the community and advocate for environmental justice.

Growing up, Kate had no interest in environmental causes. However, when she entered college in 2018, her study of geography coupled with peer influence led her to becoming increasingly conscious about environmental protection. She made changes in her own lifestyle but was frustrated seeing others use plastic products. So, Kate launched a nation-wide campaign in Singapore called Bring Your Own Bottle. The campaign cooperated with beverage companies to offer customers discounts if they bring their own containers or bottles. Last year, Kate also worked with more than 230 Singaporean hawkers and drink stalls to encourage the reduction in plastic usage.

Eu Keat is a passionate youth leader who founded the First Steps for Wildlife, which aims to encourage environmentalism and volunteerism amongst the Malaysian student community. Eu Keat began his journey in environmental work by involving himself in all opportunities presented to him – from organizing conservation trips, raising awareness on sustainability, to setting up fund raisers for the Malaysian wildlife. The exposure opened his eyes to the frustrating lack of support from the government and public, which is a common challenge that local NGOs face in environmental work. Now, Eu Keat is driven to bridge this awareness gap and contribute further to environmental conservation in the country.

Amalina is an experiential programmes specialist who began developing relationships with international stakeholders since her first involvement in the 2015 YSALI Academic Fellowship. With two friends from Singapore and Indonesia, they founded the Chilli Padi Academy, an environmental accelerator that targets potential leaders among high school students to bring awareness to environmental issues in their home communities. The initiative has since impacted numerous school students across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Veenitha drives youth empowerment in Malaysia. She believes in providing a platform for youth to pursue their passions in environmental work. Through the collaboration between Youths United for Earth (YUFE) and Roots and Shoots Malaysia, she helped organize the YUFE x Roots and Shoots Mentorship programme, which enabled her to engage with industry professionals who perform sustainability work. The exposure taught her that the possibilities are endless, and led her to transition from her original area of study of economics into environmental sciences.