Beyond being heard: Princess champions the rights of children in Kuala Lumpur
In the world of advocacy, there is a significant difference between being "heard" and being "meaningfully involved." For Princess, a youth leader from the Philippines, 2025 was the year she proved that children are not just the subjects of policy—they are the architects of it.
Having grown up as a World Vision-sponsored child, Princess’s journey came full circle last year at the ASEAN Learning Session on Meaningful Child Participation in Kuala Lumpur. She didn’t just attend as a participant; she stood before the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) as a keynote resource speaker.
Her message to the regional leaders was clear: youth leadership is not a "future" concept; it is happening now. Princess shared her evolution from a student receiving support to a Youth Researcher tackling the complex regional crises of hunger and malnutrition. This transition was made possible through World Vision’s Child-Led Advocacy and Meaningful Participation (CHAMP) platform, which provides children and youth with the technical skills to conduct research and the confidence to present it to high-level officials.
Princess’ presence in Kuala Lumpur was a catalyst for change. She worked together with 40 child rights advocates in the development of a new, child-centred ASEAN framework. Her insights helped the ACWC representatives understand that for participation to be meaningful, it must be sustained, safe, and influential. It is not enough to invite youth to a meeting; their data and lived experiences must be integrated into the final policy documents.
Reflecting on the impact of the CHAMP training, Princess noted that it gave her the tools to move beyond simple storytelling and into the realm of evidence-based advocacy. She showed the delegation that children and youth possess a unique ground-level view of the issues affecting their peers—insights that adults often overlook.
As we move into 2026, Princess serves as a beacon for other youth across Southeast Asia. Her story reminds us that when we invest in the leadership of children and youth, we aren't just helping one individual; we are strengthening the entire region’s ability to solve its most pressing problems. Princess has set a new standard for what it means to lead, proving that a girl from a local community can indeed influence the framework of an entire continent.
This article was prepared with contributions from World Vision South Asia and Pacific interns: Harvey Josh Fernandez and Mary Rose Caliag, BS Development Communication students from Central Luzon State University, based in the Philippines.