Sry Hengleap '27, 2nd place of the drawing competition by AYA initiative in Cambodia. Her artwork reflects her powerful vision for gender equality and equity among indigenous women and girls in Ratanakiri province, where she grew up.
In Southeast Asia, education remains out of reach for many girls and young women. Deep-rooted gender norms, household poverty, early marriage, and unsafe learning environments continue to block their access to schools, particularly in rural and marginalized communities across Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Laos.
In response to these long-standing challenges, young people from the Asia Young People for Action (AYA) initiative came together in a bold, coordinated effort to launch “Together for Education”—a regional campaign to mark International Women’s Day 2025. What began as a youth-led idea quickly grew into a far-reaching movement rooted in solidarity, creativity, and advocacy.
Cambodian Youth Take the Lead in Creative Advocacy
In Cambodia, youth took a leading role by partnering with peers in Indonesia to launch a vibrant multimedia campaign. The campaign included a podcast, a video series spotlighting youth voices, and a regional drawing competition. One especially impactful podcast episode was “It’s Not Simple for Indigenous People to Get Higher Education,” which featured indigenous women and shined a light on the intersection of gender, ethnicity, and educational inequality.
The drawing competition became much more than an art contest; it transformed into a powerful platform for storytelling. With 140 submissions from youth in Cambodia and Indonesia, the artworks reflected bold and heartfelt visions of inclusion, resilience, and equity. Behind every drawing was a personal story, underscoring that education is not just about access; it’s about empowerment, identity, and the chance to shape one’s own future.
To further amplify these voices, the top three winners from Cambodia were featured in a special interview video. Their reflections sparked deeper public dialogue on the barriers many young people especially those from marginalized and rural communities, continue to face in their pursuit of education.
Radio France International (RFI) also conducted an in-depth interview and produced a feature report on the drawing competition organized by AYA, highlighting the campaign’s impact and the voices of youth advocating for gender equity in education.
During the Drawing Competition Showcase in Phnom Penh, Abid Gulzar, the Asia Regional Director, presented a letter of appreciation to the first-place winner, recognizing their outstanding creativity and commitment to the theme of equal education for all.
Turning Engagement into Real Impact
The campaign didn't just engage; it mobilized. Across the region, the campaign was led by young people from start to finish. They were involved in a variety of roles, including design, moderation, interviews, creation, and amplification. In total, they produced 46 social media posts that reached over 461,000 people—an impressive reminder of how far youth voices can travel when paired with purpose and passion.
This success didn’t come without its challenges. Teams faced tight deadlines, limited resources, and logistical hurdles. But rather than backing down, they adapted, supported one another, and delivered something far beyond expectations. This wasn’t just a campaign; it was a demonstration of what youth leadership looks like in action.
One of the campaign’s most powerful moments came during the regional webinar, “Women and the Challenges to Raise Equal Education”, held in late March 2025. The event brought together 55 participants from across the four countries, including educators, community leaders, and advocates.
With youth facilitating the conversation, the webinar became a space for honest dialogue, shared learning, and regional solidarity. Personal stories, policy insights, and calls to action echoed across borders. Hashtags like #TogetherForEducation and #IWD2025 helped tie local experiences into a larger movement for systemic change.
Reflecting on the campaign, AYA youth are calling for even stronger coordination, clearer roles, and more space for learning and reflection between campaigns. However, it is evident that today's youth are not merely passive recipients of change; rather, they are actively contributing to its shaping.
With energy, vision, and collaboration, young people across Southeast Asia are showing that real transformation can begin with those closest to the problem and often furthest from decision-making power. The "Together for Education" campaign is a movement that aims to reimagine education as a right for all.
As one youth leader shared, "We all have the power to break barriers. Perhaps it would be best to proceed without further delay. Let's work together to create a future that we can believe in." Because education isn’t a privilege; it’s a right. And across Southeast Asia, youth are rising to protect it, fight for it, and build a future where no one is left behind.
