Union Youth Federations of Cambodia receives ASEAN Prize 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 October 2025 - At the opening ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summit today, ASEAN awarded the ASEAN Prize 2025 to the Union Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC), a broad-based youth organisation based in Phnom Penh.

Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, joined by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, presented the ASEAN Prize trophy to the President of the UYFC, Hun Many, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia. The ceremony was witnessed by ASEAN Leaders, diplomatic corps, and dignitaries from across the region.

The ASEAN Prize is a leading regional award administered by the ASEAN Secretariat and catalysed by the Temasek Foundation of Singapore and Yayasan Hasanah of Malaysia. The ASEAN Prize aims to recognise individuals or organisations that have demonstrated exceptional and meaningful efforts in fostering the community-building process within the region. Recipients receive the ASEAN Prize trophy and monetary prize of US$20,000.

As the 8^th ASEAN Prize recipient and a youth-mandated organisation, UYFC was recognised for its meaningful contributions to fostering greater understanding and awareness of ASEAN through a broad range of youth-led and intercultural initiatives within and beyond the region. UYFC demonstrated exemplary actions in advancing various initiatives that underline the significant roles of youth in the region's development. These contributions are seen as vital in progressing the ASEAN Community Vision by promoting regional cooperation, strengthening mutual understanding, fostering more cross-cultural collaborations, and facilitating peacebuilding and confidence-building among ASEAN youths and their global partners. Simultaneously, they enhance young people's participation through capacity development and community engagement.

In his congratulatory remarks, Secretary-General Dr. Kao commended UYFC's dedication to strengthening youth involvement and advancing regional integration. He stated "UYFC's activities promote people-to-people engagement towards promoting a participatory and inclusive ASEAN Community. This is pivotal as ASEAN moves towards the vision outlined in the new ASEAN Community Vision (ACV) 2045. Collaboration among youth and relevant stakeholders across the region and beyond will equip these future leaders of ASEAN with the skills and mindsets necessary to address emerging challenges."

SG Dr. Kao added that "By empowering young people to make meaningful and impactful contributions, UYFC provides platforms for them to broaden and widen their perspectives towards shaping and realising the ASEAN Community that is inclusive, dynamic, people-oriented, people-centred, rules-based and resilient."

Upon being officially awarded the ASEAN Prize 2025, Hun Many, as President of the UYFC, expressed "With its existing missions, UYFC has always been proud to provide platforms where Cambodian youth can engage with their ASEAN peers, share ideas, and collaborate on regional initiatives that promote mutual understanding, solidarity, and cooperation. Now, we take this Award as another stimulus to strengthen cooperation with youth organizations across ASEAN to further promote youth dialogue platforms, volunteer programs, and cultural initiatives that are essential for ASEAN unity and community building."

Ng Boon Heong, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Foundation, remarked, "Our heartiest congratulations to the Union Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC) on receiving the ASEAN Prize 2025. Temasek Foundation is honoured to support the ASEAN Prize since its inception in 2018. UYFC's exemplary contributions in youth development and cross-cultural collaborations that embody the spirit of dedication and resilience that strengthens a people-centred, inclusive and resilient ASEAN community. We look forward to continued efforts and initiatives that will foster deeper connections and collaborations in the region."

Puan Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki, Trustee & Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah, expressed "Yayasan Hasanah congratulates the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC) on being named the 8th ASEAN Prize recipient. Their achievement is a powerful reminder of what's possible when young people are empowered to lead and trusted to turn ideas into action. In Malaysia, we share this belief deeply, that youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but changemakers of today. Through our work at Yayasan Hasanah, we continue to support and invest in youth-driven initiatives that strengthen communities, protect our environment, and create inclusive opportunities for others".

She added, "We hope this recognition inspires more Malaysian and ASEAN youths to take the lead in solving real-world problems around them. Real change begins with listening to communities, and across ASEAN, young people are already showing us what courage, collaboration, and compassion can achieve. The future is not waiting; it's being shaped right now by those who care enough to begin."

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ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on August 8, 1967, and comprises eleven Member States: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam. On 31 December 2015, the ASEAN Community was formally established. The ASEAN Secretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Temasek Foundation supports a diverse range of programmes that uplift lives and communities in Asia, including Singapore. Made possible through philanthropic endowments gifted by Temasek, an investment company headquartered in Singapore, Temasek Foundation's programmes strive towards achieving positive outcomes for individuals and communities now, and for generations to come. Collectively, Temasek Foundation's programmes strengthen social resilience, foster international exchange and regional capabilities, advance science, and protect the planet. For more information, visit https://www.temasekfoundation.org.sg

Yayasan Hasanah ("Hasanah") is the impact-based foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad ("Khazanah"), Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund. Hasanah was set up as an independent entity on 1 July 2015, building on nine years of Corporate Responsibility (CR) efforts previously driven by Khazanah.

As a grant-giving organisation, Hasanah goes beyond ringgit and cents to facilitate a transformational ecosystem, working in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, infusing a spirit of advocacy and building capacity in five key focus areas: Education, Community Development, Environment, Arts and Public Spaces, and Knowledge. Collectively and collaboratively, Hasanah hopes to shift the needle of social and community reform in Malaysia towards Advancing Malaysia.

For further information, please visit https://www.yayasanhasanah.org.