1. POWERED BY YOUTHS
PRESENTS
YOUTH REPORT

2. Prepared exclusively for the world ;)

3. It began as a social experiment.
3 QUESTIONS
TO UNCOVER THE NEXT
WAVE OF CHANGE
What change do you What change do you want What change campaigns
want to see in your to see in your community or ideas would you
personal life – right and country by the year support?
now? 2015?

4. The youth of Southeast Asia answered.
105,502 STORIES
from youth between ages 15 to 35
BRUNEI CAMBODIA INDONESIA LAOS MALAYSIA MYANMAR PHILIPPINES SINGAPORE THAILAND VIETNAM
The voice of a regional force, represented by millions of words.
Words, distilled into the most significant themes,
to give the world a sneak preview of the blockbuster of change to come.
This is the SEAchange Youth Report.

5. The signs are clear.
It’s not just about helping myself, but how I can help
others.
Personal Change: Youths across all age groups display the desire to What change do you want to see in your personal life –
provide more for their family and/or community. They see problems in right now?
their lives and society, and want to be able to do something about it.
What’s stopping them? Themselves - their personal habits, lifestyle, Most Significant Themes:
knowledge, ability, and wealth. Hence the drive for personal change. But is MY LIFE GOALS
it all about personal gain? Apart from Malaysia and Singapore, stories from MY ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE
youths across the region strongly suggest that personal change is not just
MY KNOWLEDGE, HABITS & SKILLS
about what they can gain for themselves, but what they can do for others.

6. It’s not about change in leadership, but change in the
mindset of the people.
Change in community & country: How does one make change across the What change do you want to see in your community and
country? Is it up to the leaders and governance? Or is it up to the people? country by the year 2015?
Well, a large majority of youths say change has to come from the attitudes,
and the mindset of their own peers. In the Philippines, the desire for change Most Significant Themes:
in governance is equally as apparent as the desire for change in the mindset
A MORE DEVELOPED COUNTRY
of the people. However, youths from all the other Southeast Asian
countries see change coming from the people, first.
SOCIETY’S MINDSET
ENVIRONMENT
It’s not about the issues. It's about the impact.
Campaigns they support: Many youths are passionate about supporting What change campaigns or ideas would you
specific issues. However many were also just hungry to get involved in
support?
general charity. They are aware of many issues, but are more interested in
contributing to campaigns which have real impact.
Most Significant Themes:
GENERAL CHARITY
ENVIRONMENT
EDUCATION
YOUTH
HUMAN RIGHTS

7. NOW, LET’S TAKE A
CLOSER LOOK
AT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THEMES

8. Personal Change
The most significant themes for youth across the region:
My Life Goals Obtaining good grades
Studying abroad
Getting a qualification
“ I would like to learn from the best gurus of the
industry that I am in now, which is F&B, as well as
upgrade my skills on multimedia software, public
A promotion or a specific job relations and investing. I plan to have my own
Owning a business business empire of restaurants, retail fashion,
Owning a house or car airlines, publishing, and hotels. I also aim to be
Financial independence the Marketing Director in 2 years time in the
Travelling to a location company which I currently work in.
- Li Peng, female, age 25, Malaysia
”
My Ability to Providing for family members
Making parents’ lives easier
Sharing knowledge with others
“ I really want to be better in communication so
that I can make my project which I want to help
Contribute Encouraging and inspiring my peers
Being in a position to help my community
Cambodian university students have chances to
involve in society by sharing their ideas, opinion,
and thought to high school students, primary
Solving issues I care about
school students, and all the people to have good
knowledge of living. Therefore, my country will
”
be able to achieve development and success in
the near future.
- Bongjar, male, age 20, Cambodia
My Thirst Get rid of my bad habits and adopt
positive ones
Sharpen my critical-thinking skills
“ I want to see a change on my attitude; I always
hide in the shadows and let someone take charge
For New Change in my outlook towards my life & work
Increase my productivity
of things that I myself can do. I want to step it up,
make myself visible, and like most people I want
”
to make a mark on the world and make a
Knowledge, Deepen my knowledge and understanding of
others
difference or a change in society.
- Shinchan, male, age 25, Singapore
Learn specific skills and abilities
Habits & Skills

9. Change In Community & Country
The most significant themes for youth across the region:
A More On par with first world or developed countries
Advanced infrastructure
Economic advancement
“ I believe in the power of change. There is hope. By
2015, there will be the availability of jobs for the
Developed More job opportunities
Higher living standards
"Bikolano" (our region in the country) and Filipino
people. Passivity will come to an end---and the
people will take part in building a better nation.
Country Closing of the income gap
That's a vision---which I strongly believe WILL
”
Education system improvements
happen.
Literacy - Yoyie, female, age 20, Philippines
Transportation system improvements
Environment
Have more trees and greenery
Preserving rainforests
Encourage recycling mindset
“ I really wish to live under un-polluted environment
including water pollution, air pollution or sound
”
pollution. It weaken our life gradually day by day,
Wider use of green technology & infrastructure
especially in my hometown Hochiminh city.
More action to address pollution issues - Phinstar, female, age 23, Vietnam
Higher global warming awareness
Cleaner & greener environment
Lower petroleum dependency
Society's Change attitude to social issues
Instil positive thinking values and
habits within community
“ I dream of a united Indonesia. I dream of an
Indonesia where its people honour diversities.
where Indonesian people will do more instead of
Mindset Heightened collective & community spirit
More mutual respect & mutual care
yelling on the street, begging for change. I dream
of a sophisticated Indonesia, where daily life of its
people reflects its cultures, norms that live among
More proactive involvement from people
Indonesian people, so Indonesians will be proud of
saying "I'm INDONESIAN“
- Fajar_aji, male, age 20, Indonesia
”

10. Support for Campaigns / Ideas
The most significant themes for youth across the region:
Environment Going Green
Recycling
Earth Hour
Reduce Pollution
“ Now I am participating in the plastic campaigns
project. So I would like to see more support for
environment projects (like tree planting project
”
because we need more trees) and education
No To Plastic Bags projects.
Save the Forest Campaigns - Thaenu, female, age 19, Myanmar
Saving Endangered Animals
Education
100% Literacy
Education for all
Education for the needy
“ I would kindly support the idea of free access
schooling. Education in Cambodia should be free
from first grade till grade 12. I would try my best
English literacy campaigns thought out community service persuading parents
Education for women at the country side to send their children to school.
Free education Kid should not be kept for work labour at their very
”
Improving education infrastructure young age.
- Seysey,male, age 21, Cambodia
General
“
Help the needy
I would like to help the people that loss their
Fund raising charity events
hands, legs and other part of the body, to help
Aid for the disabled
Charity
”
them to have a job and knowledge so that they
Non-profit organizations
can help themselves in the future .
Children's aid organizations - Latsamy, female, age 28, Laos
Women's aid organizations
Human Rights
Gender, Religious & Racial Equality
Action against child abuse
Anti-human trafficking
“ I want to support Stop Child and Woman Abused.
This is because children are important to the
society. If they are abused mentally and
”
Anti child labour physically, they might not have the courage to
Women's rights do good things for themselves and the world.
Rights of the disabled - Hyok, female, age 22, Thailand
Freedom of speech & expression

11. Personal Change: Most Significant Themes
High School College/University Young Adults
Top Themes (Age 15-17) (Age 18-24) (Age 25-35)
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Achievement Contribution Habits & Qualities Skills & Knowledge Contribution Skills & Knowledge
Not available at time
Brunei Habits & Qualities
of analysis
Lifestyle Achievement Achievement Lifestyle Achievement
Lifestyle Achievement Friendship Motivation Achievement Motivation
Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Contribution
Skills & Knowledge Habits & Qualities Contribution Habits & Qualities
Skills & Knowledge Skills & Knowledge Skills & Knowledge
Cambodia Habits & Qualities Skills & Knowledge
Find Meaning & Find Meaning &
Skills & Knowledge
Find Meaning &
Contribution
Contribution Achievement Achievement Achievement
purpose purpose purpose
Habits & Qualities
Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities
Lifestyle
Indonesia Achievement
Contribution Skills & Knowledge Skills & Knowledge Contribution Lifestyle Lifestyle
Lifestyle Achievement Achievement Lifestyle Achievement Achievement
Contribution
Achievement Contribution Skills & Knowledge Skills & Knowledge Contribution
Not available at time Habits & Qualities
Laos Friendship
of analysis
Lifestyle Achievement Habits & Qualities
Friendship
Achievement
Habits & Qualities Achievement Friendship Achievement Friendship
Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits &Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities
Malaysia Achievement Lifestyle Contribution Lifestyle Contribution Contribution Lifestyle
Contribution Achievement Achievement Achievement Achievement Achievement Money
We also noticed...
While Indonesian and Malaysian youths strive for More Malaysian and Singaporean youths seem to Youths in Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia have a
personal independence, this theme does not desire ‘to be more happy’ compared to other South stronger focus on individual achievements whereas
appear significantly among the Filipino and East Asian youths. those in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Laos
Vietnamese youth. seem to concentrate strongly on their ability for
individual contribution.

12. Personal Change: Most Significant Themes
High School College/University Young Adults
Top Themes (Age 15-17) (Age 18-24) (Age 25-35)
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Habits & Qualities
Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities
Contribution
Myanmar Achievement Contribution Skills & Knowledge Lifestyle Contribution
Skills & Knowledge
Achievement
Contribution Lifestyle Achievement Achievement Achievement Family
Achievement
Habits & Qualities
Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities
Contribution
Philippines Contribution Contribution
Achievement
Contribution Contribution Contribution Contribution
Achievement Friendship Achievement Achievement Achievement Achievement
Motivation
Habits & Qualities
Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities
Habits & Qualities Contribution
Singapore Achievement
Achievement Explore
Skills & Knowledge Skills & Knowledge Contribution Contribution
Contribution Achievement Achievement Achievement Achievement
Motivation
Habits & Qualities
Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities
Habits & Qualities Habits & Qualities Contribution
Thailand Contribution
Skills & Knowledge Contribution
Achievement Contribution
Skills & Knowledge
Contribution
Skills & Knowledge Money Achievement Achievement
Achievement
Habits & Qualities Contribution
Achievement Habits&Qualities Habits & Qualities Lifestyle Habits & Qualities
Skills & Knowledge Achievement
Vietnam Skills & Knowledge
Achievement
Skills & Knowledge
Find Meaning &
Skills & Knowledge Skills & Knowledge Lifestyle
Habits & Qualities Achievement Achievement Achievement Achievement
Money purpose
We also noticed...
Vietnamese and Filipino youth display a desire to Travelling abroad and expanding their network of Spirituality and religion is a key, and unique theme
increase their academic and vocational knowledge international friends are recurring themes for for Filipino youths. Many strive to be more faithful
to be better at work or school. Indonesian youth, Vietnamese youths. Many hunger for the to their beliefs.
on the other hand, place more importance on opportunity to further their studies overseas.
gaining local cultural knowledge in order to better
understand the values of their own culture.

13. Community & Country: Themes
High School College/University Young Adults
Top Themes (Age 15-17) (Age 18-24) (Age 25-35)
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Economy & Environment Peace & Harmony
Economy & Development Environment Unity
Development Economy & Economy &
Awareness & Involvement Not available at Unity Economy &
Brunei Unity time of analysis
Societal Attitude Development Development
Awareness & Development
Awareness & Awareness & Awareness &
Societal Attitude Involvement Societal Attitude
Involvement Involvement Involvement
Environment Education Environment Education Education Education
Education
Education Economy& Education Economy& Economy& Economy&
Cambodia Economy & Development
Economy & development Economy& development development development
Infrastructure
development Infrastructure development Infrastructure Poverty Infrastructure
Environment
Peace & Harmony Environment Environment Peace & Harmony
Education Peace & Harmony Peace & Harmony
Education Economy & Education Education
Indonesia Peace & Harmony Education
Economy & development Economy &
Education
Economy &
Economy & Development Better Better governance
Development Societal attitude development development
Governance
Better Governance
Education Better Governance
Poverty Environment Economy &
Not available at Economy & Economy &
Laos Economy & Development
time of analysis
Environment Poverty
Development Development
Development
Better governance Infrastructure Awareness&
Poverty Poverty
involvement
Peace & Harmony
Environment Peace & Harmony
Peace & Harmony Unity Environment Peace & Harmony Environment
Peace&Harmony Economy&
Malaysia Unity Economy& Unity Unity Unity
Economy& development
Economy & Development development Societal attitude Equality Equality
development Societal attitude
Infrastructure
We also noticed...
Vietnamese and Filipino youth voiced strong Change in health awareness and healthcare system Malaysian youth collectively voiced strong feelings
feelings about the eradication of poverty. While and services are commonly voiced by SEA youths about their community’s racial and religious
youths in Vietnam focus on taking children off the with particular focus on H1N1 by the Vietnamese, equality and strive for greater levels of unity and
streets, Filipino youths would like to address cancer by the Singaporeans, dengue and malaria togetherness.
hunger issues among the poor in their home by the Filipino and HIV/AIDS by Malaysians.
country.

14. Community & Country: Themes
High School College/University Young Adults
Top Themes (Age 15-17) (Age 18-24) (Age 25-35)
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Economy & Education Education
Education Education Education Education
development Better Governance Awareness&
Myanmar Health Health
Poverty
Better Governance
Economy&
Better Governance
involvement
Better Governance Technology Health Freedom of expression
Social issues & crime development Health
Environment Environment Environment
Environment Environment Environment Environment
Better Governance Economy& Better Governance
Philippines Better Governance
Economy& development
Societal attitude Better Governance
Corruption
Better Governance
Societal Attitude Poverty Societal attitude Corruption
development Societal attitude Poverty
Better Governance
Environment Environment Environment Environment Environment
Economy & Environment
Economy & Economy & Economy & Economy & Economy &
Singapore Development
development Education
development development development development
Freedom of Societal attitude
Societal Attitude Societal attitude Societal attitude Societal attitude Societal attitude
expression
Societal Attitude Economy & Unity Unity
Environment Environment
Unity Development Unity Economy & Economy &
Thailand Economy & Societal attitude Infrastructure
Societal attitude Unity
development development
Racial Societal attitude
Development Equality Societal attitude Societal attitude
Economy & Economy& Environment Environment Environment Environment Environment
Development development Education Economy & Economy & Economy & Economy &
Vietnam Environment Patriotism Economy& development development development development
Transportation Transportation development Transportation Transportation Transportation Transportation
We also noticed...
Patriotism is a key theme among Vietnamese and While education is a common theme among South Vietnamese youth voiced a strong, collective desire
Filipino youth. They collectively stress the East Asian youths, Filipino youths stress a desire to for infrastructural change to address the current
importance of buying locally produced products change their current education infrastructure while traffic condition in their home country.
and pushing home grown brands into the Malaysian youths long for fairness in education
international scene. opportunities through meritocracy.

15. Campaign & Ideas: Themes
High School College/University Young Adults
Top Themes (Age 15-17) (Age 18-24) (Age 25-35)
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Environment Self-improvement Environment Youth Human Rights
Not available at time Health
Brunei Youth Environment Youth General charity Health
of analysis Self-improvement
General charity Anti-drugs General charity Education Education
Education General charity Youth Youth Youth Anti-drugs Human Rights
Cambodia Youth Career Education General charity Health Health General charity
General charity Sports Leadership Education Education Education Education
Environment Environment Environment Environment Environment Environment Environment
Indonesia Health Human Rights Peace Health Health Health Human Rights
Human Rights Education Education Education Education Education Education
Environment Environment Environment Environment Human Rights
Not available at time
Laos Human Rights Human Rights Cultural Exchange General charity Human Rights Health
of analysis
Youth Youth Education Youth Education
Environment Youth Environment Environment Environment Environment Environment
Malaysia Youth Peace Youth Youth General charity Youth Youth
General charity Unity General charity General charity Health General charity General charity
We also noticed...
Youths in Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Filipino and Indonesian youth would be highly In Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam, campaigns
Malaysia are highly aware of the major threat supportive of ideas campaigning for political for cleaning up rubbish and general waste
HIV/AIDS poses to society and as such are highly transparency, anti-corruption and cleaner management have a lot of support.
supportive of any campaigns to further this elections.
awareness in their community.

16. Campaign & Ideas: Themes
High School College/University Young Adults
Top Themes (Age 15-17) (Age 18-24) (Age 25-35)
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Environment Environment Environment Environment
Youth Youth Youth
Human Rights Human Rights Human Rights Human Rights
Myanmar Education
Youth Youth
Health
Youth Health
Health
Human Rights Education Education
Health Education Education Education
Political Environment Environment Environment Environment
Environment Environment
Philippines Education
Political Political
Education Education Education General charity
Economy Political Political Political Education
Environment Human Rights
Environment Environment Environment Environment
Human Rights Youth
Singapore Youth Youth Youth Youth
Education
General charity
General charity
General charity General charity Entrepreneur Poverty
Poverty Poverty
Environment
Education Environment Self Improvement Environment
General charity
Thailand Environment general charity Human Rights Youth
Health
Environment Human Rights
General charity Education Education Education
Education
Self-improvement Environment Environment Environment Environment Environment
Environment
Vietnam General charity General charity General charity General charity
General charity
General charity General charity
Education Education Education Education Education Education
For further analysis...
This is the voice of our future. We need to get it out to as many people as possible, so leaders across the world will hear from it, and learn from it. We are giving copies
of this report away for free online, and the raw voices are also publicly available on http://youthsays.com/seachange for researchers and academics to run further
analysis, and help tell the story of the youth. Any emails related to this report can be sent to seachange@youthasia.com

17. How were the stories collected? Which individuals are we
The selection process began with 120 partner organizations throughout the
region, consisting of universities, colleges, online communities, NGOs, and
Jobstreet.com. These organizations reached out to their network of Southeast
hearing from?
Asian youth, and sent them to http://youthsays.com/seachange to answer the 3 Because of the way the stories were collected, you're hearing from
questions with their stories. connected, informed youths who are motivated to contribute to
change. These are young people who care about something, and are
At the time of analysis, a total of 35,172 youths had written in their essays for willing to tell you about it. Through this report, you're hearing from
each of the 3 questions. These youths were driven by a promise that their voice some of the more proactive voices of our time.
will be compiled into a report for the world's leaders, and that 500 of them will
be chosen to represent their countries in a free trip to the Youth Engagement
Summit 2009. No cash or other prizes were used.
Who, or which company is What is the objective of
behind this report? the report?
This is the first community-initiated survey about Southeast Asian youth done The future of any country depends on how well it can engage its
on a scale this large. Over 120 organizations and a network of believers were most promising resource: the youth. Southeast Asian countries have
involved in making it possible. The organizing chairman of YES2009, a massive youth population: 200 million aged between 15 to 35. How
Harmandar Singh is one of these believers. He helped bring the project can the youth unleash their potential? Perhaps, our countries’
through when the going got tough. The youth research involved Youth Asia, leaders can help.
riding on the YouthSays.com action platform. But more importantly was the
kindness of hundreds and thousands of strangers who spread the word, told This report is a step forward. It helps put the voice of a once-silent
friends, and decided to voice out their most personal stories. generation in a position to guide decision makers and leaders. As the
youth lead the next wave of change, this report hopes to give you a
Any emails related to this report can be sent to seachange@youthasia.com window into the future we can create together.
BEHIND THE SCENES

18. Thank you for believing in us.
“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
It was a quote used by the Obama campaign, but it echoes We know problems arise when we don't make full effort to
throughout the world - a world where 6.7 billion people are make ourselves heard, and when leaders don’t stop to
collaborating and competing for better quality of life. And in listen. This causes a lack of engagement with the youth.
this world, there are 200 million of us in Southeast Asia. This is why some face a leadership succession crisis.
Young. Aged between 15 and 35 years old. Energetic.
Restless, and ready for a change. This is why change isn’t always easy. In spite of this, we
know the even bigger truth about change.
A change for our jobs. Our education. Our future.
Change. It is unstoppable.
And we’ve decided to do something about it.
With your help – the burning desire and collective actions
Over the past month, over 120 universities, colleges, online we take in our quest for a better life, a better country, and a
communities, student organizations, business leaders, and better world, we know, will overcome all obstacles.
global change icons have been driving this forward with us.
Thank you for believing.
We step up be active participants, and contributors to
change. And we can’t do this without you.
From youths across Southeast Asia.