(Photo by Tew Yu Rui)
After two days of immersive learning journeys and expert-led sessions, Day 3 of TIYA Conference 2025 marked a pivotal shift — from sharing of insights with youths to getting them to take charge. On this day, the delegates returned to the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre (HYC) energised and brimming with fresh perspectives, ready to co-develop impactful action plans with their peers and their mentors.
With a theme of “Inspire, Empower, Sustain: YOUth for 2030,” TIYA Conference 2025 served as a dynamic platform for collective action. Designed to deepen understanding, ignite cross-border exchange, and amplify youth-led impact, the conference brought together over 100 youth delegates from 14 countries. Supporting this effort were 70 youth crew members, including over 20 dedicated youth ambassadors who are mostly from the International Youth Leadership Program (IYLP) and Tzu Chi Collegiate Youth Association.
Jessica Cook, a Youth Board Member of ProVeg International, sharing her insights during the Gallery Walk Exhibition. (Photo by Goh Shoo Weng)
The morning of Day 3 began with a two-hour Gallery Walk Exhibition, where delegates explored 20 booths hosted by various event partners. The booths were divided into five zones, each championing one of the five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) spotlighted at this year’s TIYA Conference.
At the Gallery Walk Exhibition, diverse NGOs showcased their commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Their initiatives aligned closely with SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, Imagine H2O and The Ocean Project presented their efforts in safeguarding water resources. For SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, representatives from Energy CoLab and Tonibung highlighted innovative solutions to power communities sustainably.
Gallery Walk Exhibition (Photo by Goh Shoo Weng)
Representing social enterprise Tonibung, panellist and mentor Adrian Banie Lasimbang shared that its mission is to engage with organisations dedicated to supporting underserved, last-mile communities in remote areas. “We discovered that Tzu Chi and Tonibung share many common values when it comes to promoting sustainable development. Hence, when the opportunity arose to contribute insights concerning indigenous communities at the conference, we knew we had to be here,” he said.
Other than the aforementioned organisations, Wahid Foundation, Climate Interfaith, GoodHub SEA, and Bold At Work rallied under SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, emphasising collaboration as the driving force for impact. They were joined by several other partners championing the remaining two SDGs featured at the exhibition.
Guiding delegates to develop action plans that meet UN standards
After the exhibition walk, participants attended the Design Thinking Workshop led by Shaan Gom, Indigenous Youth Engagement & Empowerment Coordinator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangkok Regional Hub.
He began the Action Plan Development segment by asking participants a simple question: “What is Social Innovation?” After getting answers from the crowd, he explained that it is an approach that seeks to first understand situations from the user’s perspective. In order to do that, project owners not only have to ask the right questions but also know how to frame their questions to get better input. The youth delegates learnt the dos and don’ts of interviewing and then practised the techniques in a role-play session. “Truly understand and empathise with the community, and ensure you know what the communities really need. Don’t assume, strive to design solutions that actually work for them,” Shaan Gom advised.
Shaan Gom then presented challenging scenarios and encouraged delegates to brainstorm solutions while considering users’ multifaceted perspectives. He emphasised that there is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution to a problem.
Shaan Gom leading the Design Thinking Workshop. (Photo by Goh Shoo Weng)
To guide delegates in developing action plans that meet UN standards, the second part of the Action Plan Development segment was an online workshop on Impact Reporting, delivered by Dayyan Shayani, a statistician from the UN Statistics Office. Dayyan shone the light on high-quality indicators, how to select and measure them effectively. He defined an indicator as a measure that provides meaningful evidence for monitoring progress towards key national issues and their desired outcomes. He emphasised that indicators should be directly linked to these intended outcomes, clearly illustrating what one aims to achieve, forming the foundation of results-based management.
Inspired to act: What pathways did the youths pursue?
After the insightful and informative workshops, each group of delegates dived straight into developing an action plan with the guidance of a mentor. This stage laid the groundwork for eventual solutions that would deliver real-world impact.
Four teams were invited to share their plans onstage with the crowd and a panel of judges. The first team chose to focus on SDG 11. Drawing from recurring fire incidents in Jakarta, where overcrowding and unsafe housing displace hundreds annually, the team emphasises the urgent need for resilient housing and infrastructure. Their proposed outcomes included safe housing, reliable water and power supply, improved living standards, and stronger fire prevention systems.
The first group of delegates to present their action plan. (Photo by Donn Tan)
Motivated by their learning journeys to the Sustainable Singapore Gallery or City Sprouts (West Coast) to learn about the story of Orang Laut in Singapore, the second and third team of delegates were eager to address water-related challenges.
The second team delved into Malaysia’s recurring floods, and their ruinous impact on electricity, infrastructure, and vulnerable communities. Aligned with SDG 11, their plan aims to reduce disaster-affected populations, ensure inclusive support for low-income families, children, and the elderly, and promote resilient urban planning. While the third team which was comprised delegates from Malaysia, the Philippines, Nepal, and Sudan, sought to reduce health risks, enhance dignity, and promote sustainable living. Their project addressed the plight of stateless communities in Sabah, who struggle with limited access to clean water and sanitation.
While not all groups had the chance to present their ideas on stage, their concepts were just as compelling and innovative. 21-year-old Yeow Shuen Yi, a university student from Penang, Malaysia, shared that her team aims to install piezoelectric floor tiles, a technology widely deployed in Japan, in high human traffic areas such as Armenian Street in Penang. The tiles can generate electricity that will power streetlights. Although the initial investment will be significant, the team believes this urban energy solution can drastically reduce energy consumption and pollution.
Yeow Shuen Yi (middle) with her teammate during the Gallery Walk Exhibition. (Photo by Goh Shoo Weng)
Local youth Lee Wen Xuan’s team chose to focus on SDGs 7, 9 and 17. As engineering students, they were interested in solutions that would contribute to clean energy efforts. In Singapore, the goal is to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, with initiatives involving electric vehicles, solar panels, and recycling well underway. Wen Xuan believes that 2050 shouldn't be seen as a fixed deadline. "We can bring it forward—we can always do more. Also, Singapore’s sustainability efforts are a success story. We should share the fruits of our labour with other countries, and help them to adapt and achieve similar progress," he said.
While many delegates focused on addressing issues in their own countries, there were also local youths who stood out with actionable plans aimed at supporting other nations instead.
“We really feel that we shouldn’t take living in Singapore for granted, and we want to explore how we can contribute beyond our country,” said 20-year-old local university student Xiong Lu. Together with her teammates, she recognised that Singapore has already made significant progress in achieving most of the SDGs, while many challenges around the world remain unresolved. To create a greater impact, they hope to embark on meaningful projects outside of Singapore.
Local youth Xiong Lu completing the ice breaking session called Human Bingo on the first day of the event. (Photo by Donn Tan)
TIYA Conference is only the beginning
The host of the Day 3 session, Lee Huey Yi, who is a former IYLP delegate herself, shared with the crowd upcoming events. They include United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP)’s Asia Pacific Energy Week.
She also hosted the launch of Generation Hope Goals: Actions for the SDGs (GHG). GHG is a collaborative initiative by Save the Children, ESCAP, UNDP, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centre for Asia and the Pacific, Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, ChildFund, and Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP). It aims to engage young minds and leaders in developing their existing innovative climate action solutions linked to the SDGs.
Young participants working in groups or networks may submit their climate solutions via a centralised application link, which will be shared across multiple platforms. In October, 25 shortlisted projects will advance to the regional selection phase, where participants will pitch their ideas online and produce a one-minute video for public voting. The top five finalists will be announced in early November and they will receive support through mentorship, speech development workshops, and networking opportunities. These finalists will then present their solutions at the 13th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development, taking place in Bangkok from 24 to 27 February 2026.
Lee Huey Yi encouraged the delegates to complete the remaining 50 per cent of their action plans in order to participate in the GHG. Applications for the GHG opened on the final day of the TIYA Conference 2025 and will close on 24 September 2025.
Official Launch of Generation of Hope Goals 2.0 for 2026.
Ecolery’s Chief Operating Officer, Yeamin Islam Tabin (left) from Dhaka, encourages youth delegates to get involved and inspire others by participating in the next GHG. Ecolery, founded to supply edible and biodegradable cutlery to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste in cities and waterways, won first place at in GHG 2024. (Photo by Goh Shoo Weng)
Forming new relationships and networks with like-minded people
At the closing ceremony, two youth delegates went on stage to deliver heartfelt speeches. 18-year-old Lance, representing the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), is an international student from the Philippines. As a volunteer who fervently works with rural communities, he understands that continuous donations alone are not a sustainable way to support beneficiaries. TIYA Conference 2025 has allowed him to think how he can better help families who are trapped in generational poverty.
This event has also helped him forge a global network of like-minded people who share the same aspirations as he does. Lance expressed his gratitude, saying, “I now know that I don't have to do it alone. There're always people who want to give back to society and make this world a much more habitable and a much happier place.”
Lance, an international student from the Philippines, delivers his student representative speech at the closing ceremony of TIYA Conference 2025. (Photo by Goh Shoo Weng)
In a touching moment, Ms Deborah Bourdeaux, Chief International Affairs Officer, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation USA, led both delegates and mentors in writing a letter to themselves, asking them to detail what they have learnt and what projects they envision spearheading.
The delegates drop their love letters into the box, one by one. (Photo by Goh Shoo Weng)
What makes TIYA Conference unique?
The energy of Day 3 of TIYA Conference reflected the true spirit: young people are not just onlookers but also catalysts for change, bringing fresh perspectives and bold initiatives to address global challenges. In the words of Mr Yen Po-Wen, the region needs youth leadership, and youths have the solutions. The future of our planet depends on their voices, creativity, and leadership.
Reflecting on the three-day conference, Shaan Gom was impressed by the energy of the participants. Many were as young as 15 or 16, yet they presented thoughtful, practical solutions — sometimes even looking beyond their own countries. He recalled one Singaporean group that proposed adapting local expertise to support communities in Indonesia, an idea sparked by cross-border dialogue at the event. This, he said, was one of his biggest takeaways: that bringing youths together from different countries fosters awareness and camaraderie that might not emerge otherwise.
Apart from being a facilitator, Shaan Gom was also an advisor to the TIYA Conference’s organising committee. As a coordinator for the YECAP, he believes strongly in the power of young people to drive climate action and influence policy. Youths, he emphasised, are a primary group to engage when it comes to implementing and achieving the SDGs.
What made the TIYA Conference stand out, Shaan said, was its focus on action. Rather than leaving participants with inspiration but no clear next steps after the event, the TIYA team will continue to host capacity-building sessions and online meetings with the experts over a period of four to 12 weeks. Furthermore, there is the possibility of deploying the action plans on the world stage. This end-to-end process, in his view, gave the conference real impact.
Echoing this sentiment, Candela Gonzalez, the Chair of the World Board of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) described the youth participants as inspiring and deeply engaged. She found it particularly encouraging to see young people take ownership of their lives and strive for meaningful community impact.
Candela Gonzalez from Argentina leading the second part of the Action Plan Development session. (Photo by Donn Tan)
She also praised the inclusivity and accessibility of the conference. Although she regularly attends global events, she found this gathering unique in the safe space it created for participants, including very young attendees experiencing such international exchanges for the first time. She emphasised that the ownership taken by participants in shaping the process, coupled with the in-person interactions, set this conference apart. In her view, the connections forged here will generate a ripple effect, leading to lasting impact for both the organisations involved and the wider community.
For youth delegate Bella Citra Hadini, she opined that the role of youth in tackling today’s challenges lies in value creation. She believes that even small gestures can make a difference. For example, before the conference, she designed postcards about Indonesian culture and tourism to share with fellow participants. For her, it was a simple way to introduce Indonesia’s rich traditions to those unfamiliar with them.
As we look ahead, the call to action is clear: empower youth today to secure a sustainable tomorrow. Let us provide the platforms, the resources, and the trust they need to lead with courage and vision. Together, we can shape a future where young voices guide us towards a more just, resilient, and hopeful world.
Share 
