Malaysian social entrepreneur Tyrian is reigniting her mission to empower urban youth through skills development programs, building on lessons learned from her pandemic-disrupted NGO work. The advocate first entered the social impact space in 2018 while completing her university studies, co-founding an organization focused on bridging education gaps for disadvantaged young people in cities.
Though the initial initiative closed during COVID-19 lockdowns, Tyrian tells KhabarAsia the experience revealed critical insights about youth empowerment. "We saw firsthand how combining technical training with personal mentorship helped participants develop both marketable skills and self-confidence," she explained.
Now exploring new models for scalable impact, Tyrian emphasizes the need for programs that address Malaysia's urban-rural divide while preparing youth for Southeast Asia's evolving digital economy. Her observations align with World Bank reports highlighting skills mismatches as a key challenge in ASEAN labor markets.
For global investors and policymakers tracking human capital development in Asia, stories like Tyrian's underscore grassroots solutions emerging across the region. Academics note such community-driven initiatives could inform broader strategies for sustainable urban development and workforce preparation.
