The ASEAN Youth Fellowship (AYF) is a leadership development programme that brings together exceptional young changemakers from across Southeast Asia. Designed to foster collaboration across the public, private, and people sectors, AYF empowers emerging leaders to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for the region through cross-border collaboration and action-oriented leadership.
Organised by the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) in partnership with the National Youth Council (NYC) Singapore, the Fellowship builds on a legacy of impact since its launch in 2018 during Singapore’s ASEAN Chairmanship.
Applications for AYF 2026 are now closed. Follow us on our social media platforms to get the latest updates on future editions of the programme.
AYF brings together outstanding young leaders from across Southeast Asia for a week of immersive learning journeys, dialogues with regional thought leaders, and cross-cultural exchanges — all designed to inspire collaboration and drive inclusive, sustainable development in ASEAN.
Through immersive learning journeys, dialogues with regional thought leaders, and deep cross-cultural exchanges, AYF empowers you to drive inclusive and sustainable development in ASEAN.
The eighth (8th) edition of AYF will be held in person from 13 to 20 November 2026 across Singapore and Manila, Philippines.
If you're a young professional aged 27 to 35 from an ASEAN member state and you’ve got a passion for impact, stay tuned for future opportunities to join our network of changemakers.
Programme Objectives
The AYF is designed to cultivate the next generation of ASEAN leaders by equipping them with the insights, networks, and cross-sectoral collaboration skills needed to shape a more inclusive and innovative region.
Through the Fellowship, participants will:
- Deepen their understanding of regional opportunities and challenges
- Build meaningful connections with fellow emerging leaders across ASEAN
- Engage in thought-provoking dialogues with senior policy-makers, industry experts, and changemakers
- Participate in exclusive institutional visits and experiential learning journeys in Singapore and the region
Commitment Beyond the Programme
Upon completion of the Fellowship, ASEAN Youth Fellows will: