Two Filipino students from a Makati-based school represented the Philippines during the Asia Student Leadership Conference 2021 hosted by Smile Asia Organization in Singapore.
Third-year students Irma De Jesus and Hannah Felix from iACADEMY were among the eight delegates from the Philippines.
“I was greatly moved by the stories of the speakers and the students who joined from different countries in Asia,” said Felix. “I am thankful to iACADEMY and Smile Asia for this opportunity,” she added.
Felix added that it was “inspiring to know that during this time of difficulty, people can come together to share their drive and passion for service.” In particular, Felix was inspired by one of the speakers, Justyn Olby, who is an English educator whose child was born with a cleft lip. “His stories of kindness and compassion towards the cleft lip community sparked within me a new love for this advocacy,” she added.
Felix said that the stories of her group - composed of students from Singapore, China, and Timor Leste who recounted times where they have stood up as leaders and volunteered to bring their causes forward - also inspired her.
Through their volunteer projects, Felix realized that beyond wanting to lead, “I also want to make more leaders and enable them to perform at their best.”
Felix added that having attended this conference with students her age from different parts of the world, “I realized that change can come from anyone and anywhere.”
The Asia Student Leadership Conference is an annual event giving students a platform to receive training from notable individuals across the globe to enhance intercultural awareness, strengthen their leadership skills and character, and become creators of change.
This two-day conference consists of student leaders to learn about the core values of service, leadership, education, and volunteerism.
With the theme Lux Brumalis which means “The Light of Winter”, the conference shed light on the universal experiences and changes brought about by the pandemic, likening it to the experiences of isolation and detachment in winter.
Aside from leadership and volunteerism, the conference also touched on the advocacy of Smile Asia which is to raise awareness and provide aid and support to cleft lip and palate patients.
Through this event, Smile Asia hopes to facilitate conversations about the personal volunteering experiences of international and local students to inspire a new generation of leaders who can bring light to others.
The participation of the students is part of iACADEMY’s efforts to encourage them to take an active role in volunteering and leading for change.
This initiative is spearheaded by the Office of Students Affairs and Services (OSAS) which seeks opportunities to engage students with both the local and international organizations.
Founded in 2002, iACADEMY has pioneered specialized programs that are technology-focused, innovative, and industry-relevant.
Its programs in Computing, Business, and Design were developed to address the mismatch between graduates of academic institutions and the actual needs of the industry.