DILI, 11 June 2026 (TATOLI) – The European Union (EU) to ASEAN has launched a groundbreaking regional campaign to celebrate the youth behind progress in Southeast Asia.
Titled “Hands that move”, the campaign showcases how initiatives supported by the EU-ASEAN strategic partnership are delivering innovative and sustainable solutions that unlock new opportunities for communities and individuals in ASEAN countries.
Investments through EU’s Global Gateway strategy mean better services now and new opportunities ahead, helping young people study, work and innovate across a more connected region.
This campaign centres on 11 ‘heroes’ and 11 digital creators – one per ASEAN country – each an expert in one of the five pillars of the Global Gateway strategy: Education & Research, Transport & Infrastructure, Climate & Energy, Digital, or Health.
The “heroes” are champions of EU-funded initiatives such as projects, mobility programmes like Erasmus+ and members of the Youth Sounding Board for the EU in ASEAN – a youth consultative group on EU policies, strategies and programmes. In their respective fields, they pushed boundaries and made a lasting difference. They inspire other youth to do more and better.
The digital creators a.k.a. influencers are renowned youngsters with millions of followers who translate Global Gateway themes into stories that feel immediate, human, positive and culturally relevant.
“This campaign celebrates everyday heroes of Southeast Asia whose hands move the region and the world forward”, emphasised H.E. Sujiro Seam, the EU Ambassador to ASEAN. “Across the region, students, workers, entrepreneurs and communities are turning opportunity into action and ideas into real change.”
The faces of this campaign in Timor-Leste are Vanessa Cuca, a young volunteer, student and facilitator and Lucrecia Nessi, a prolific and popular digital content creator. They share a strong commitment to promoting sustainable solutions for the environment and community.
“Take action, use your skills and creativity. Work together to create sustainable solutions that benefit our communities and the environment”, stated Vanessa. “Nature-based solutions training from the European Union helped me deepen my learning about ways and actions to protect our coastline, environment and support our communities”.
“Vanessa is inspiring us and reminding that our future and the key to change are in our hands”, said Lucrecia. From transforming trash into a business worth billions, to helping keep aircrafts safe in the skies, to creating the world’s first paper-based batteries, Southeast Asia’s young changemakers are proving that bold ideas can power the region’s future and advance the EU-ASEAN collaboration.
TATOLI
