Young leaders from eight Asian countries adopted the Chiang Mai Declaration on June 30 and committed themselves to justice, human dignity, and cross-border solidarity at the close of the inaugural Asian Youth Leadership Academy (AYLA).
Organizers also launched the AYLA Alumni Network to keep participants connected through leadership dialogues, webinars, collaborative initiatives, mentoring, research, community engagement, and future AYLA programs.
Held from June 24 to 30 in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, the academy brought together journalists, educators, psychologists, researchers, development practitioners, community organizers, social workers, youth leaders, and university students from Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The International Youth Training Centre organized the program in collaboration with the North South Initiative, Pax Romana International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS-MIEC), the Communal Life of Love and Unity of the Mountain People (CLUMP) Foundation, and Life Skills Academy.
Rather than relying on traditional lectures, the academy encouraged participants to learn through dialogue, reflection, interactive workshops, group discussions, social analysis, case studies, and cultural exchange.
Human rights, migration, inequality, climate change, mental health, social exclusion, and peacebuilding became common topics of conversation throughout the week.
Adrian Anthony Pereira, executive director and co-founder of the North South Initiative, reflected on the kind of leadership the academy sought to foster.
“Leadership is not about power or position. It begins with listening, understanding different realities, and walking alongside people, especially those on the margins,” he said.
Pereira said Asia’s challenges “cannot be solved by one country or one organisation alone” because they “require dialogue, trust and solidarity across borders.”
He said he hopes AYLA inspires “young people to become compassionate leaders who work together to build more just, peaceful and inclusive societies.”
During a field visit around the International Youth Training Centre campus, participants explored community-based cocoa and coffee initiatives while learning how social enterprise, sustainable livelihoods, holistic living, and environmental stewardship can strengthen local communities.
The organizers said the experience demonstrated that leadership is also about caring for people, protecting the environment, and working together towards a sustainable future for all.
One of the most significant moments of the academy came during the closing ceremony, when participants collectively adopted the Chiang Mai Declaration of the Asian Youth Leadership Academy 2026.
The Chiang Mai Declaration commits participants to uphold human dignity and human rights, promote justice, solidarity, peace, and inclusion, strengthen dialogue across cultures, religions, race or ethnic and gender identities, generations, and communities, care for the environment, and encourage collaboration across Asia.
Participants also committed to taking “at least one meaningful step” within their own communities, institutions, or workplaces to translate the values of the declaration into action.
William Nokrek, course coordinator of AYLA, co-chair of the IYTC Steering Committee, and international president of Pax Romana IMCS-MIEC, described the academy as “the beginning of a growing community of young leaders across Asia.”
“AYLA is not just a one-week programme. It is the beginning of a growing community of young leaders across Asia,” he said, adding that organizers hope participants return home “inspired to take small but meaningful actions in their own communities” while remaining connected through the AYLA Alumni Network.
“Together, we can continue learning from one another, sharing our experiences, and working across borders for justice, human dignity, solidarity, and a sustainable future for all,” he said.
Nokrek said organizers want AYLA “to become more than an annual programme” and “to become a community where young leaders accompany one another, share their knowledge and experiences, and work together to respond to the challenges facing our societies.”
He also announced that the second Catholic Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA), an initiative of Pax Romana IMCS-MIEC, will be held from Nov. 3 to 13 at the International Youth Training Centre in Chiang Mai.
Nokrek said the academy “focuses on accompanying young Catholic leaders through leadership formation, Catholic Social Teaching, dialogue, and service.”
He added that CAYLA was inspired by the encouragement Pax Romana IMCS-MIEC received during a private audience with Pope Francis in September 2024.
“We were encouraged to continue accompanying young people, building bridges of dialogue, and forming leaders committed to peace, justice, and the common good. That encouragement continues to inspire our mission,” he said.
Nokrek said CAYLA aims to deepen the faith of young people, strengthen their leadership, and prepare them to serve the Church and society with compassion, integrity, and hope.
He said the initiative reflects the belief that young people are not only the future of the Church but also its present, and that investing in their formation contributes to a more just, peaceful, and compassionate future.
All photos courtesy of AYLA/IYTC
