Sheila at the 2024 ASEAN Social Impact
School of Digital Science Bachelor student sharing her experience in Vietnam
My Experience at the ASEAN Social Impact Program 2024
By Sheila Shuqi Shafeeqah Binti Abdullah Muhammad Wafiy Narzuki
I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the ASEAN Social Impact Program (ASIP24), an initiative funded by USAID in partnership with Fulbright University Vietnam. This annual program equips young changemakers with the knowledge, skills, and resources to tackle social issues aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This year, the focus was on “Good Health & Wellbeing.” As the sole delegate from Brunei, I arrived in Vietnam on May 30th, filled with anticipation. Settling into the residence at Dockland, I was eager to meet fellow participants and immerse myself in the program. The evening kicked oƯ with a warm welcome at Fulbright University, where we engaged in various activities such as trivia night and wellness checks. These activities were designed to foster connections among participants, making it easy to form friendships and meet new people.
The first day began with an opening ceremony featuring representatives from USAID and Fulbright University. We then received training on understanding vulnerable communities, presented by Anh Nguyen, an HIV/AIDS prevention specialist from USAID. This was followed by our first site visits. My group visited Yoga Planet, where we learned yoga integrated with playful storytelling for children, and the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU), where we toured the labs and engaged in educational roleplay. Despite the long day, my team and I dedicated our evening to working on our project, which was to be presented at the program's conclusion.
On the second day, we had time for team-based idea generation around our theme of good health and wellbeing for vulnerable communities. The broad scope of this topic made the ideation stage particularly challenging. We then participated in breakout training sessions, choosing from project management, partnership, design thinking, and strategic planning. I opted for project management, enjoying the interactive quizzes and learning new terms. Following this, we had a panel discussion with ASIP24 partners, followed by mentoring sessions. My team benefited from the insights of Rafael Masters, founder of Vulcan Augmentics, Tricia Nguyen, founder of the Wintercearig Project, and Phuong Hoang, senior coordinator at the Wellness Center. Their diverse feedback was invaluable as we refined our project.
The final day was a whirlwind of activity as everyone worked on their projects, submitting our slide deck in the morning. Fueled by coffee, we persevered through the night’s exhaustion. We then headed to the Saigon Prince Hotel for the final pitches. Although my team did not win, I was proud of our eƯort and teamwork. The winning team earned the opportunity to receive up to USD 10,000 in funding to implement their project within a month and a half. After the event, I had to leave immediately for my flight home. It was with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to the wonderful friends and unforgettable experiences I had gained. This program broadened my perspective significantly, especially as someone from the IT industry. I now have a deeper understanding of how I can contribute to health and wellness initiatives and am eager to implement some of the ideas I learned to make the world a better place.
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