ASEAN celebrated its 53rd anniversary in a low-key virtual ceremony on 8 August. This year’s theme is a call to build a cohesive and resilient community amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many young men and women in the region have been stepping into action: frontline workers, implementors and volunteers in social welfare projects, innovators in digital technology and services, and social entrepreneurs.

But these are indeed challenging times for everyone; our youth today face uncertainty the likes of which we have never encountered.

In this issue, Lao PDR Youth Union Secretary General H.E. Alounxai Sounnalath, Chair of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth, talks about the need to address vulnerabilities that the youth are exposed to during these volatile times. The pandemic is only one of the major disruptions in their lives, as they try to carve out their futures.