MEET THE AYF 9 COUNCIL OF STUDENT LEADERS
Here are the people working diligently to make the 9th Asian Youth Forum possible. You can be one of them too!
The President KIM FERNANDO UY (Philippines)
Kim Fernando “Kimboy” Uy is nothing different from your ordinary young adult who loves to play, travel, and get to know more things the world has reserved for him. He believes that everybody is not created equal but each has to be given the equal chance to level the playing field. His principle is simple, “Equal merit for equal work” because unlike many people in his generation, he thinks that there is no use helping people who do not have any plans of helping themselves.
Kimboy was educated in the University of the Philippines where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science. His childhood was marked with remarkable milestones in line with leadership to include the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Student Leadership, certificates of scholastic excellence among many other prestigious citations.
He has represented his city and country in various local and international congregations where he managed to be noted as a budding leader destined to be somebody someday. Being affiliated to an organization advocating welfare for children across his country, it is not difficult to say that Kimboy’s heart has always been with children and the youth. “There is a need to utilize a different world resource for the plagues this planet is facing – the burning passion of the youth,” he says.
At the young age of 20, he has already shared his excellence as a consultant for the Office of the President of the Philippines and proved that young as he is, it is never deterrent to make his young voice be heard and considered. Prior to this he has served as a political officer and executive assistant to a political party in his country where he was exposed to the many societal problems there is that he could move to change, if not eradicate. In 2009, he was the over-all marketing Head for the 8th Asian Youth Forum held in Seoul, South Korea where he was also elected president for this year’s AYF.
“When I open the newspaper every morning, there’s always the bad news and the good news. The bad news? The so many problems the world is facing. The good news however is written between the lines – there is a solution. How many? It is one life multiplied by the many many billion others.”
In this year’s AYF, Kimboy is very excited to meet like minds and pass on the unending passion he has for the youth. Hoping, highly, that the rest he passes it onto shall do the same.
The Vice-President SOPHEA MAO (Cambodia)
Mao Sophea (Sofy) finished Professional Communication from the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL) in Phnom Penh in September. After getting scholarship from IFL, Sofy believes that "A person’s milestone is nothing but Education."
Being a degree holder for Professional Communication, she possesses high communication skills and common sense. her greate sense of understanding and sympathy makes her very easy to be friends with as sociable is her middle name. As a self-motivated individual, her diligence makes it easy for her to adapt to new environments and maintain personal relationships with people she meets.
"Don't compare yourself to those who are better than you but to those worse. Then, you'll see that you are improving."
Her interests involve long-hour group discussions on matter that has anything to do about culture, ethic, and volunteerism. During her free time, she likes persuading her friends to work as a volunteer staff in non-profit organizations. She always tries to promote herself to involve in social work.
Sofy started working since she has graduated from high school. She is holding two positions in two companies, Assistant General Manager and Consultant. Besides working, she likes swimming, dancing, cooking and chatting with new people.
"I was borne to talk to new people and make them laugh. I am talkative, but if I don't talk that means I am sick, sad or dead. See you all in Taiwan!"
The Head for Publications SHINICHIRO HIEIDA (Japan)
Shinichiro Hieida is a Japanese student who goes to Waseda University, Japan. He has an experience of studying at the University of Toronto, Canada for one year as an exchange student. His major is linguistics. He graduates in March, 2011 after which he plans to be an English teacher for high school students in Japan. He is also planning to travel around the world after working for 5 or 6 years and is looking forward to seeing everyone he has met.
Shin has many hobbies such as playing the piano, futsal, and darts. He has been enjoying piano for over ten years now. Recently, playing darts has been his passion. He will be really excited if you talk about these things. This is certainly a good way to become friends with him.
Shin was recruited into the AYF family in 2010. At that time, he had absolutely no idea what AYF 8 would be like. However, AYF 8 turned out to be much more exciting than he had expected - an awesome time with many new friends, who, otherwise, he would have never met in the rest of his life. Though not everything went smoothly with him, "AYF 8 was definitely a life-changing experience" still.
As the next AYF will be held in Taiwan, this is going to be more exacting and inspiring than the previous AYFs, considering the awesome council members and supporters. His personal hope is that AYF 9 will be more diverse: more people from many different countries walking and encountering many more different cultures. Also, he hopes that participants think about global issues such as ageing population and the need to restructure societal norms. It is true that AYF is a good opportunity to make friends, practice English, and so on. But, he considers it very important and beneficial to share different opinions on global issues with people from different backgrounds.
Here is a message from him: “AYF can be either terrible or terrific. It all depends on you. I really hope every single one of you will have a great time with new people! See you in Taiwan!”
The Head for Documentation NURHASWANEE BOTO (Thailand)
Nurhaswanee "Wanee" Boto is a Thai student who encompasses the aspirations of every Asian: a peaceful community for every person irregardless of age, sex, religion, and ethnicity. She believes that each person is destined to be great and that in order to do so, it is a must that this person lives in an environment conducive to being great.
"I believe that being great is not a mere destiny. It will only be a destiny if we make the first step to it which is making it a choice." When she first joined AYF, she realized that there are a lot of things that the youth can do to make change happen.
Wanee finished her MA in Teaching English as an International Language in 2010 from Prince of Songkla University. Prior to that, she had a BA English degree from the same university. Aside from these certifications, her other citations are worth all the praises. She was twice hailed outstanding student of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in 2005 and 2007 and still outstanding student of Prince Songkla University in 2007. At present, she holds a position as vice president of an English club.
Currently, she is an English language lecturer at Princess of Naradhiwas University. During her free time, she emcees for programs and tutors English subjects for young Thai people. Her interest in communicating her thoughts was most exposed when she became a moderator for an NBT channel where she worked for 4 episodes aimed at building foreigners' trust and reliance in Southern Thai provinces. Her passion to extending help to her society cannot be discounted. Wanee believes that there is too much to do as a member of the young population and that the perfect time to start is not tomorrow but now.
"The world is too much divided and among the things we can do as young leaders of today is to make every bit of the future worth the wait for the next generations. This is what I realized when I joined AYF in Seoul. And I hope you get the same when you join AYF in Taipei. See you there!"
The Head for Education & Research KARLA TUMULAK (Philippines)
Karla Marie Tumulak graduated Cum Laude in Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of the Philippines Cebu. Being an academic achiever, she is a recipient of the UP Presidential Scholarship and has received various scholastic merits which includes being a Regional Awardee of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines - Region VII. Adept in organizing her thoughts in argumentation, she is a former member of the school's debate team varsity and has participated in various debate competitions.
Karla has represented her school in various leadership conferences and also represented her country in international youth exchange programs. She was a student ambassador for the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) in 2009 and a delegate to the 8th Asian Youth Forum in Seoul, Korea in 2010.
As a student leader, her dedication to her work and her passion to serve has helped build her competence and character. She believes that one must not forget social responsibility while being academically excellent. She is an active member of the student mobilization group of International Justice Mission advocating against human trafficking and she is also involved in volunteer work, conducting community trainings and doing community service. She is now working at an international human rights agency and plans to travel the world, meet new people, and make a difference through her chosen field.
In this year's AYF 9 in Taiwan, she is very excited to meet various youths from different cultural backgrounds who have the same passion towards making a better world.
"The AYF 8 experience was surreal and has deepen my understanding and appreciation of Asian cultures. AYF brings the best in you and I hope this year's participants will have a great time this year. I hope to see you soon!!
The Head for Alumni Relations YIN THUZAR AUNG (Myanmar)
A high school graduate, Yin Thuzar Aung, who has a strong affinity to art, finds art as a way to express her thoughts and feelings and as an effective medium to express her raw emotions. From young to old, American to Japanese, professors to schoolmates, people from different backgrounds can communicate through this medium and build relationships founded on this common interest. Art has led her to love talking to people to share each other’s origin, customs, thoughts, and feelings. Art is also the contribution that she can make to the community.
As a volunteer art teacher in her school as well as in many other organizations, she tries her best to guide her students to transform their potentials to their drawings. She quotes, “Although it is a difficult task to manage a group of children with different characters, I’m happy to be able to nurture their love for art and nature. This has been a rewarding experience for me and has helped me learn the importance of having an open mind in order to understand individuals and mediate conflicts.” As an enthusiast of art, she believes that with this she can rise above her social circle, explore different cultures, and find common motives to solve worldwide problems.
Ever since her elder sister, Thiri May, introduced her to the AYF, she has been enthused by its objectives. She started applying for AYF starting from her age 13. However, because of the age limitation, she was accepted only when she reached 15. To date, she still is the youngest member of the AYF family. Feeling glad but responsible, she was excited to participate in AYF 8 in Seoul. As AYF gathers like-minded energetic youths, she joined AYF so that she could represent the unique culture of Myanmar and share her opinions to the problems threatening the international community as well as learn the world that existed outside Myanmar.
Yin, who has already participated in several programs, finds Asian Youth Forum as the most interesting as it is a program to facilitate the cultural exchange among the youths of Asia. The exposure with different people from different countries and cultural backgrounds has helped her better understand not only art but also mankind. She enjoys learning the similarities of human values as well as the differences in culture which has led her to compose a quote for herself and the world, “Unity in Diversity.” AYF 8 was a chance for her to spread the tradition and culture of Myanmar which is rather not well known to the world.
“Another benefit that I gained from the program is that I got wonderful opportunities to discuss and find answers for the cultural and global issues,” she says. She believes that all the global problems can be solved if people of different culture work together hand-in-hand. With the support of youth from other nations as well, she envisions to spread happiness and prosperity everywhere.
“If we all work together, we can make the world a better place to live. So, yes, let’s hold each others’ hands tight and work for it. See you all soon in AYF 9!!!” ^_^
The Head for Finance and Logistics BHARATH NATARAJAN (India)
Bharath Nataraj
is very sensitive towards social issues and concerns about bringing positive
changes around by sharing the learning. Bharath completed
Bachelor’s Degree of Arts, Major in Sociology, Political Science and
Economics. He likes working in the development fields, with different
social organizations who are working on different issues at different places
across the world. Bharath, worked as a Field Coordinator, heading a project
for Centre for Social Action - a student-initiated social organization where he
already worked as volunteer for three years. He likes works with people
for people.
Working with Women Self Help group in 14 villages and managing a kindergarten has gained him more interest to continue in the development field and his 3 years volunteering work experiences working with different community people, doing street plays on many social issues to sensitize the community, visiting NGOs to learn and support them, participating and coordinating national and international conference, conducting ‘rural exposure camps’ for mainstream students, traveling, and his participation in many empowerment programs honed his creativity. The learning experiences from formal and informal contexts have made Bharath articulate ideas for himself and others.
Taking part in International AIDS conference in Vienna, World Youth Congress in Istanbul and Asian Youth Forum in Seoul gave him the opportunity to meet some of the young sensitive youths across the world and some way changed his perspective of Development Work in general.
As he wants to continue in the field of Development, he joined Dream A Dream (www.dreamadream.org) and working as Volunteer Manager, to sensitize the community through active volunteering leading to a nondiscriminatory society, where unique differences are appreciated. He also working on a own project with a friend from France, “ iMaGinE- Smile for Changes” http://smileforchanges.tumblr.com/ an initiative to empower youth and involve youths ideas and sensitize the world. “Face Challenges for Changes, which is very necessary in Development Sector", says Bharath.
AYF is an opportunity for young Asian Youths to meet up with their own neighboring friends and to share their ideas and discuss the respective major issues and thus the world heard about whats happening. “Building a network will surely help in future to Bring in World Peace”. AYF is an effort to make it HAPPEN.
As a common man, Bharath likes to explore culture, travling, walking-talking, enjoying the nature, singing, learning new languages, meeting new people and etc. Best wishes…" Lets Face Challenges to bring Positive Changes and Lets BE READY to WALK on the UNEXPLORED PATHS"
Working with Women Self Help group in 14 villages and managing a kindergarten has gained him more interest to continue in the development field and his 3 years volunteering work experiences working with different community people, doing street plays on many social issues to sensitize the community, visiting NGOs to learn and support them, participating and coordinating national and international conference, conducting ‘rural exposure camps’ for mainstream students, traveling, and his participation in many empowerment programs honed his creativity. The learning experiences from formal and informal contexts have made Bharath articulate ideas for himself and others.
Taking part in International AIDS conference in Vienna, World Youth Congress in Istanbul and Asian Youth Forum in Seoul gave him the opportunity to meet some of the young sensitive youths across the world and some way changed his perspective of Development Work in general.
As he wants to continue in the field of Development, he joined Dream A Dream (www.dreamadream.org) and working as Volunteer Manager, to sensitize the community through active volunteering leading to a nondiscriminatory society, where unique differences are appreciated. He also working on a own project with a friend from France, “ iMaGinE- Smile for Changes” http://smileforchanges.tumblr.com/ an initiative to empower youth and involve youths ideas and sensitize the world. “Face Challenges for Changes, which is very necessary in Development Sector", says Bharath.
AYF is an opportunity for young Asian Youths to meet up with their own neighboring friends and to share their ideas and discuss the respective major issues and thus the world heard about whats happening. “Building a network will surely help in future to Bring in World Peace”. AYF is an effort to make it HAPPEN.
As a common man, Bharath likes to explore culture, travling, walking-talking, enjoying the nature, singing, learning new languages, meeting new people and etc. Best wishes…" Lets Face Challenges to bring Positive Changes and Lets BE READY to WALK on the UNEXPLORED PATHS"