World Vision Youth Leader Shows How Young People Can Make Real Change in ASEAN 

Princess, a youth leader from the Philippines, shared her journey from being a child supported by World Vision to becoming a Youth Researcher today at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Learning Session on Meaningful Child Participation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (October 17, Monday).  

The event was hosted by the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), led by Mrs. Yanti Kusumawardhani, Indonesia’s Representative on Children’s Rights to ACWC. 

It was supported by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (MoWECP) of the Republic of Indonesia, World Vision, and Child Rights Coalition Asia (CRC Asia) – a regional network of child rights and human rights organization working together to be a strong voice for child rights in Asia. 

When asked how she feels about being chosen as one of the resource speakers at the event, Princess said she was deeply honored and grateful to World Vision. 

“I’ve been with World Vision for more than a decade now. I’ve been invited to different activities, forums, and conferences. Everything was different and meaningful. Engaging directly with the honorable representatives of the ASEAN-ACWC is a life-changing experience for me…” the youth leader remarked. 

“I’ve learned a lot from the Learning Sessions, especially the Lundy Model, which states that children’s participation does not end in voices being heard,” she further added. 

Moreover, she never imagined that being a child leader and a simple volunteering experience, guided by World Vision, would lead her to many places. 

The event brought together more than 40 people from ASEAN, child rights groups, and youth networks who want to make sure children’s ideas are taken seriously. 

“One of the most significant outcomes of the learning session is the commitment to establish an ASEAN framework that ensures meaningful child participation. World Vision stands united with ACWC in bringing this vision to life,” said Kathrine Rose R. Yee, World Vision South Asia & Pacific Director of Advocacy, Communications & External Engagement. 

A Youth Leader Taking Action 

Princess is part of CHAMP (Child-Led Advocacy and Meaningful Participation), a World Vision platform that helps young leaders learn new skills and lead action for their communities. 

In 2023, she joined other children and youth in Singapore for the Enough Campaign, which focuses on hunger and malnutrition. From there, Princess and her fellow CHAMP leaders, Cessy and Ella, decided to do their own child-led research. 

Their research was titled “Addressing Barriers to Nutritious Food Access for Children, Research on Hunger and Malnutrition with World Vision Philippines.” 

With support from Young and Resilient Research Center of Western Sydney University and World Vision, they discussed with children and community leaders to understand why getting healthy food is still difficult for many kids. 

When they talked to children, they used fun activities like games of snakes and ladders and food mapping, so the process felt safe, friendly, and enjoyable for the young respondents. 

From what they gathered, children pointed out five main problems: 

1. Healthy food is expensive 

2. Some places don’t have enough nutritious food 

3. Many children don’t know much about good nutrition 

4. Not enough government budget 

5. Some areas don’t have updated nutrition data, especially for teens 

From Child-Led Insights to Child-Led Solutions 

Their research didn’t just end with a report. They also turned their findings into action through a project plan contest. Three winning community projects from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are now being supported: 

1. Project Enhance, which helps children learn about health and nutrition 

2. Healthy Horizons, which promotes healthier habits in schools 

3. An urban gardening project that uses recycled materials to grow food in communities 

These projects are now helping children grow food, learn about nutrition, and take the lead in improving their own communities. 

Princess also shared how their research reached national groups like the National Social Science Congress of the Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC-NSSC). This opened doors for more child-led research to be recognized in schools and at the national level. 

“For us, this research is very meaningful,” Princess said. “We were able to lead, participate, and create something that can help other children. We hope our work will be used to make real solutions for the issues kids face every day.” 

World Vision believes that when children are given space to speak and lead, they can help build better and safer communities for everyone. 

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For Media Interview, please Contact:  
Shirley “Lei” Kimmayong, Communications Manager   
Email: [email protected]   
Contact no.: +63 9499964619   

About World Vision. World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org.ph.