Asia Pacific Change Makers all set for Global Shapers Shape Asia Pacific Regional Conference - ShapeAPAC23

View Your Choice as part of feature coverage of Shape Asia Pacific - Shape APAC 2023 covered Interview with Bangkok Hub Shapers who are the organizers of the Global Shapers Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Bangkok Thailand. ( Click the link to read both the blog posts )

In this blog series, 

we interview four of the dynamic Global Shapers from Asia-Pacific region - Mauliddiana Nurul Ilyas "Diana" from Surabaya Hub, Indonesia, Yuma Sumi, Fukuoka Hub, Japan, Ruohan Hu, Shanghai II Hub, China and Jackson Rowland, Auckland Hub, New Zealand. 

Enjoy reading the interview and also share your comments on the comments section

When did you join Global Shapers and how have you been involved with the hub? 

Diana - I joined the Surabaya Hub in its inaugural year, which was in 2022. I played a pivotal role in founding the hub alongside my founding curator and vice curator. During that time, our primary focus was centered on environmental conservation as our project scope.

Yuma - My journey with Global Shapers Community began in 2020 and has been exhilarating. From 2021 to 2022, I had the privilege of serving as the curator of Fukuoka Hub. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Fukuoka hub became one of Japan's most vibrant. During my term, I welcomed 9 new members from 4 nationalities and organized over 10 cross-hub sessions. I also initiated the hub's first-ever cross-hub project and introduced Slack to connect 6 hubs in Japan, leading to two successful cross-hub national gatherings. I'm eager to share these community leadership experiences with fellow shapers at SHAPE APAC💪

Ruohan - I'm Ruohan Hu from the Shanghai International Hub. In 2022, I joined our hub and actively participated in our hub projects, such as events addressing the workplace challenges faced by young people just entering the workforce with 0-5 years of experience. Our hub cooperates with one of the most well-known mental health platforms in China to organize career development and mental well-being offline sharing events. In the upcoming months, we are going to launch projects related to gender equality.

Jackson - I joined the Auckland Global Shapers hub when it launched in 2015 and have been Curator, Vice Curator, and involved in various projects during my time in the hub. I was also the first Oceania Community Champion, and attended the WEF Annual Meeting in 2022.

How has Shapers experience been for you ? Share one of your best memories with the hub ?

Diana -  My most cherished memories within the Global Shapers Community include engaging in discussions and meetings with my fellow members regarding their innovative ideas and unwavering commitment to our city. This experience has enabled me to develop my skills in project management, campaign execution, and personal development. Additionally, I had the privilege of meeting other community members during the Annual Summit in Geneva and am eagerly looking forward to the upcoming SHAPE Asia-Pacific event in Bangkok. In our second year, we initiated a collaborative project with Surabaya Cambridge School known as the Greenheart Project.

Yuma - A highlight of my shapers journey has been meeting aspiring shapers from around the world, whether online or onsite. I organized a series of cross-border get-to-know sessions called Asia Virtual Coffee, where I had the privilege of connecting with inspiring change makers from across Asia, including Global Shapers Bangkok. These virtual gatherings transcended geographical barriers during the pandemic, fostering a global bond within the community. 

Ruohan - The shapers support and care for each other, generously sharing various resources and growing together, which left a deep impression on me. In addition, there are activities and resources from around the world to support Shapers. As a Shaper, we should cherish this platform and use its power to give back to society. Attending more activities to exchange ideas with outstanding shapers, proposing and conducting meaningful projects, utilizing GSC platform resources for learning are all good ways for young Shapers to grow.

Jackson - Being a part of Shapers has been life changing. From the learning, connections, and life long friends I’ve developed, it’s been one of the most important parts of my professional and personal development. 

My favorite memory would have to be the 2016 ANZ Retreat, where we went to a beautiful island in Sydney for a ‘glamping’ weekend. But, a torrential storm ended up coming through, making our glamping retreat more like a mud bath. The rain meant we spent most of the weekend inside a small room, but this brought us even closer together, and the bonding and learnings we had across the weekend were second to none.

What excites you about Shape and motivated you to apply to Shape APAC ? 

Diana - I'm genuinely excited about the opportunity to connect with a diverse range of individuals, absorb their energy, and share the indomitable spirit of "Arek - Arek Surabaya." I am also eager to identify potential partners and mentors who can contribute to the projects and personal development of my fellow hub members.

Yuma - What excites me most about SHAPE APAC is the opportunity to connect with shapers from neighboring countries! 

Ruohan -  This is my first time attending a SHAPE event, and I'm very excited to exchange ideas with everyone. 

Jackson - Despite being in the GSC for 8 years, and attending multiple World Economic Forum events and ANZ retreats, I’ve never actually been to a Shape, so I’m really excited to go to my first Shape! I’m also now an alumni of the Community, so have been less involved in shaper activities and events, and I’m excited to reconnect with new and old friends all working to make the world that little bit better. 

What are your expectations from Shape APAC and what would you love to take back to your city and your hub ? 

Diana - My expectations from Shape APAC are to immerse myself in a dynamic and diverse environment where I can exchange ideas, experiences, and strategies with fellow Shapers from the Asia-Pacific region. I hope to gain fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the challenges that our city and hub are currently facing. This includes insights into how we can enhance our ongoing environmental initiatives and further engage our local community.

What I would love to bring back to my city and our hub are tangible actions and inspired approaches that will elevate our impact. Whether it's refining our project strategies, fostering new collaborations, or implementing best practices in sustainable development, I aim to return with a toolkit of knowledge and a network of like-minded individuals that will empower us to make a significant difference in Surabaya. Ultimately, my aspiration is for our city and hub to become a beacon of positive change and innovation, not only within the Global Shapers Community but also in our local community.

Yuma - As the community champion for Japan, South Korea, and Mongolia, I'm keen to learn how Bangkok Hub manages SHAPE and explore ways to support hubs organizing SHAPE events in my region. 

Ruohan - In regard to my expectation, on one hand, I hope to share my experience about well-being and healthcare projects and learn from other hubs' best practices to implement in our hub's projects. On the other hand, my work is in international trades, so I also hope to take this opportunity to discuss local economic and potential cooperative opportunities with outstanding Shapers from around the world. 

Jackson - I’m really looking forward to connecting with a whole lot of amazing Shapers and learning more about the work they’re doing to improve the world. I hope to hear about some awesome projects that I can share with the Auckland hub to help improve our city.

Which track are you more interested in and why ? How are you looking to add value to the conversations and learn or take back from that track ?

Diana -  I am particularly intrigued by the Food Security and Energy track, primarily because I believe it aligns not only with our hub's focus but also with the pressing challenges and potential opportunities for our beloved Surabaya City. I aim to actively engage in discussions and share insights from our hub's experiences in this area while also learning from the valuable perspectives of others in the same track. 

Yuma - The "Energy and Food Security" track is of particular interest to me at this event, since Japan faces significant challenges in these areas, heavily relying on energy and food imports, and grappling with ongoing concerns about nuclear power.

Ruohan - I signed up for Track 3 Wellness & Healthcare, because I'm also working on related projects. I hope everyone can achieve their potential and find more happiness in work and life. Attending SHAPE in Bangkok will be an invaluable opportunity to connect with other change makers, get inspired by new ideas, and put what I learn into action to create positive change. I'm looking forward to uniting our strengths for the better society. 

Jackson - I am really interested in ‘Track 1: Energy & food security’, because this is one of the greatest challenges and opportunities facing the world as we increasingly urgently transition to a net zero future. My professional work revolves around how we fund that transition, and I am hoping to share some of my experiences through this track while learning even more from other attendees to further accelerate this work. 

Your message for Young people as a Shaper 

Diana -  Break barriers and pursue your core values. 

Yuma - Remember, opportunities aren't handed to you where you stand; you often need to change your perspective to find them. Across the world, there are extraordinary, like-minded, aspiring shapers waiting to connect with you. Language barriers may seem daunting, but don't let that hold you back—your English proficiency will improve along the way. And finally, don't wait for the perfect moment to dive into something; dive in, and let each experience prepare you for the next. Embrace the journey!

Ruohan - As a Shaper, we should cherish this platform and use its power to give back to society. Attending more activities to exchange ideas with outstanding shapers, proposing and conducting meaningful projects, utilizing GSC platform resources for learning are all good ways for young Shapers to grow. 

Jackson - Hope and action is what our future needs the most right now, and is what this Community is all about.

Outside Shape what are you looking to explore during your visit to Bangkok ?

Diana - Aside from Shape activities, I'm looking forward to indulging in some leisure time and exploring Bangkok's vibrant tourism and shopping scene.

Yuma - THAI FOOD

Ruohan - During my visit to Bangkok, apart from the SHAPE event, I would like to research the Bangkok consumer goods market and the opportunities for companies from other countries to do business in the Thailand market. This relates to my work in the globalized economy. Also, I will explore the delicious food in Thailand - I think I will enjoy it during my trip!

Jackson - The food! I loooove food, and Thai is my favourite, so you’ll probably find me in between the amazing street food stalls. 

View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई - encourages every positive influencing initiative and collaborates to generate a story to share for all our readers. 

Want to collaborate with us ? If you are one of the positive influencer or an organization driving change and creating impact or be it any initiative that you are involved with just drop a email to us at

viewyourchoice@gmail.com  

and we will get them posted after our team communicates with you. 

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Global Shapers Community's Shape Asia Pacific - ShapeAPAC 2023 being held this September at Bangkok, Thailand [ Interview with Bangkok Shapers ]

Global Shapers Community has engaged thousands of young people who have self-organized for impact, delivering projects for their local communities. Shapers have attended more than 55 Regional SHAPE events, 8 Global Community Meetings and 70+ World Economic Forum Meetings. 

Shape Asia Pacific - ShapeAPAC2023 is days away this September ( read our past blog about it - 180 Young Change Makers connect at Bangkok Thailand for building a resilient region at Global Shapers ShapeAPAC ) 

View Your Choice team interacted with some of the organizing team Bamm, Shoot, Ong and Sai from Global Shapers Bangkok Hub who along with the entire big team of Bangkok Shapers are tirelessly and active engaged preparing for Shape Asia Pacific 2023. 

Let's get to know and hear from them on this blog - 

Bangkok hub host it's second Shape, what does it meant for you and the hub ?

Tipvipa Kittikasemsak "Bamm" -

Hosting a SHAPE event is undeniably an immense responsibility. But with great responsibility, as we've learned, comes an even greater reward. Reflecting back, the Bangkok hub's hosting of SHAPE APAC in 2018 was nothing short of monumental. Under the banner "Green Evolution and Sustainable Living," the event not only brought 133 Global Shapers from over 30 countries together but also set the stage for substantive dialogues on Renewable Energy, the Future of Food, and Sustainable Cities.

The memories, friendships, and impactful creations that emerged from SHAPE APAC 2018 have become legendary within our hub. Those shared experiences have been the torchbearers, constantly reminding us of what's possible when a community comes together with shared intentions.

Embracing this legacy, we, the new generation of GSBKK, are fueled with the aspiration of creating a sequel, equally enriching and impactful. The lingering memories and lessons from 2018 undoubtedly set a high bar, injecting both excitement and pressure into our preparations. Our vision for this year's theme, "Rebuilding a Resilient Region," is deeply influenced by the global context: a world grappling with the aftermath of a pandemic, which has significantly challenged the engagement and connectedness within and between hubs.

Our objectives are tri-fold:

1. Re-connect: We've seen the potential of our community, filled with kind-hearted, ambitious individuals. We're crafting experiences that reconnect Shapers on a profound, impact-driven level, turning friendships into collaborative forces for global betterment.

2. Re-inspire: The current era is riddled with a 'polycrisis' - multiple overlapping crises, from environmental to socio-economic, that have tested our resilience. This has informed our selection of tracks, with each track spotlighting experts who've remained steadfast and even flourished during these testing times. Through dialogues, site visits, and hands-on workshops, we aim to distill their wisdom, helping Shapers to strengthen their resilience and collaboratively "rebuild a resilient region."

3. Re-field: True learning often happens outside conference rooms. We're taking Shapers into the heart of Thailand's sustainable living ethos. From rice planting to culinary journeys, we'll dive into Thailand's zero-waste processes, and explore how food, a soft power of Thailand, is not only a cultural ambassador but also a key economic driver. It's a testament to interconnected growth, community strength, and the possibilities that lie in "rebuilding a resilient region."

In essence, our commitment, as the Bangkok hub, is not just to recreate the magic of 2018, but to elevate it, ensuring that every Shaper leaves with deeper connections, renewed inspirations, and hands-on experiences that resonate both personally and professionally.

Why did the hub choose the theme Building a Resilient region and prioritize those 3 tracks in specific?

Chanitnant Ajanant "Shoot" -

Our hub, Global Shapers Bangkok, picks the theme ‘Rebuilding a Resilient Region’ because we thought of our community as part of the broader Asia Pacific region. Just like many other places in the world, our region has been dealing with a remarkable confluence of crises - from the effects of the pandemic and conflicts in Europe to rising inflation and the great resignation - an era of "polycrisis."

We believe that to tackle these interconnected problems, leaders of all ages need to be well-prepared on a global scale. They should have the knowledge, experience, and big-picture vision to come up with innovative solutions that can build long-term resilience toward multiple risks. This led us to take a deep dive into our hub strengths and hold discussions to answer these key questions: What areas can really make a difference and potentially spark solutions for this complex mix of challenges? What are we good at as a hub? And how can Bangkok and Thailand play a role in highlighting local wisdom, resources, and global trends?

That's when we came up with our three impact pillars: 1) Energy & Food Security, 2) Tourism & Creative Economy, and 3) Wellness & Healthcare For All. Additionally, to make sure we exchange ideas and create new things, we've developed a framework for our three-day experience focused on: Re-Connecting, Re-Inspiring, and Re-Fielding. 

With this approach, we believe our impact pillars and framework capture the essence of the theme 'Rebuilding a Resilient Region.' By strengthening communities and encouraging collective efforts, we're all set to shape an equitable, inclusive and sustainable recovery – especially in the era of "polycrisis."

What would you expect the outcomes to be from this Shape to lead and for the Shapers to take back ?

Chutipon Watanakemapirut "Ong" -

The conference is positioned to address the complex challenges of Polycrisis by utilizing economic, sustainable, and policy-driven strategies. Our aim is to gain valuable insights from interactive panel discussions and immersive workshops, with a special focus on three key areas: Energy & Food Security, Tourism & Creative Economy, and Wellness & Healthcare For All, all while highlighting Thailand's cultural roots. Additionally, we're dedicated to forming strategic partnerships within the esteemed Global Shapers network and external collaborators, thereby significantly enhancing the impact of our initiatives and generating subsequent value propositions.

- Empowering Transformation: Through the implementation of the Shape to Lead initiative and the actions of Shapers, we unlock a realm of transformative opportunities.

- Fresh Outlooks: Active participation in conversations, absorbing essential insights, and engaging in workshops focused on subjects like Energy & Food Security, Tourism & Creative Economy, and Wellness & Healthcare will offer novel and innovative perspectives.

- Catalyzing Social Change: The insights we gather will fuel pragmatic, inventive solutions, amplified by emphasizing Thai values, collaborating across disciplines, and involving diverse stakeholders. This comprehensive approach facilitates broader, enduring changes at both local and global levels.

Bangkok being a central arena and a gateway for Asia Pacific, how do you see Shape build conversation ahead for the region ?

Irin Phatraprasit "Sai" - 

Shape APAC consists of Shapers from a diverse background and interests. We believe that everyone is unique and has a story to tell - we are shaped by our life journeys. 

Shape creates the environment where Shapers who may not have crossed paths, get to share their know-hows and their country's exemplary projects in a safe space. We hope that Shapers can inspire each other, adapt existing projects to fit with their own country's specific needs and more importantly, find ways to collaborate. Our World has never been more connected. Rather than regions working in silos towards a similar goal, we hope that we can create synergies so that we create impact in a sustainable and scalable way.

We do not know what we don't know. We hope that participants come with an open mind and open heart to learn, to be challenged, and most importantly to have fun!

View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई - encourages every positive influencing initiative and collaborates to generate a story to share for all our readers. 

Want to collaborate with us ? If you are one of the positive influencer or an organization driving change and creating impact or be it any initiative that you are involved with just drop a email to us at

viewyourchoice@gmail.com   

and we will get them posted after our team communicates with you. 

Follow us on Social media - Find the icons on the right corner of our blog/ web platform.

Teenager Change Makers Fourth Series - Meet the Glocal20Under20 - Glocal Teen Hero 2023

Glocal’s 20under20 as part of Glocal Teen Hero is an umbrella title for 20 early change makers, who are teenagers from diverse fields, stepping out to create an impact in the society. Glocal is dedicated in recognizing these teenager’s initiative, achievement naming 20under20. This umbrella title is the game-changers who have done something worth an inspiration in their life. Glocal’s ‘20under20’ aims to recognize these enthusiastic young souls who have the vision to do something ordinary in the most extra-ordinary way possible. We believe in their dreams and want to acknowledge these diverse talents who hold the potential to be the change-makers and the future leaders. Throughout the year, Glocal’s 20under20 shall work cohesively for identification of opportunity, fostering networking and collaboration and doing works to create an impact in the society. They are expected to use their existing knowledge and experience to initiate works and enhance their leadership and other qualities. Also, paving their way towards becoming future leaders by being interactive and proactive.

Meet 5 Teenagers from 2023 #Glocal20Under20

Madhav Khanal (18 yr old ), Writer, believes that learning from a wide variety of skills is a pragmatic choice to be a successful social entrepreneur in future. He aspires to share this freedom of intellectual curiosity among young minds. He is an enthusiastic writer and educationalist. His research projects in Physics and Literature are meant to have community impact such as the nuclear research is aimed for safety in hospitals against radioactivity, the literature project is aimed at protecting Nepalese folktales ,and the quantum computing project is meant to have a faster algorithm for maximizing resources in Nepal.

Diwash Sarraf ( 17 yr old ), Social Activist, working for 6 years in the field of child rights participation protection and mental health. He demonstrates the knowledge of society, child rights, human rights, child participation, and development around his place. He has significantly contributed to the greater movement to promote mental health as a crucial component of total well-being by making services more accessible, raising awareness of them, and giving people the power to prioritize their mental health.

Dikshya Bharati ( 18 yr old ), Health Activist, is an enthusiastic individual to work to make a positive change in the community and learn through the process. At the age of 13, she joined Nepal Scout and has been volunteering in different programs and has done different plantation programs and littering control. She works to ensure that the general people receive the access to appropriate healthcare services and spread the knowledge regarding health issues addressing the existing health issues. Her motto is “To make this earth a better place whoever lives in it”.

Avinash Kumar Paswan ( 17 yr old ), Musician, is fond of teaching, photography, and economics. But the preservation and development of the Maithili language are my major priorities. He deeply appreciates his cultural history and actively works to promote Maithili and assure its preservation for future generations. He is a Maithili musician and music producer, who has been using FL Studio ( Music arranging Software ) to program music since 2018.

Atith Adhikari (17 yr old), Social Entrepreneur, He is a hard-working and motivated individual with a passion for increasing access to educational resources through digital education. With a strong background in web development, content writing, and leadership, Atith has dedicated himself to creating opportunities for others to learn and grow. Over the years, he has developed his commitment to increasing access to digital education through his work.

We will introduce you to rest of the Glocal 20 Under 20 in next three of the Teenager Change Makers series. While, keep yourself updated through our blog on Glocal Teen Hero 2023 as each year. 

View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई - is one of the supporting partners of Glocal Teen Hero since inception. 

Glocal Teen Hero team blogs for View Your Choice on this year's coverage as part of the collaborative partnership.

View Your Choice encourages every positive influencing initiative and collaborates to generate a story to share for all our readers. 

Want to collaborate with us ? If you are one of the positive influencer or an organization driving change and creating impact or be it any initiative that you are involved with just drop a email to us at

viewyourchoice@gmail.com  

and we will get them posted after our team communicates with you. 

Follow us on Social media - Find the icons on the right corner of our blog/ web platform.

180 Young Change Makers connect at Bangkok Thailand for building a resilient region at Global Shapers ShapeAPAC

What if you get to connect with young people from diverse field be it from entrepreneurs to engineers, scientists to artists, doctors to fashion designers among many others, name it any field at a same community - it would be Global Shapers Community. 

The Global Shapers Community(GSC) believes in a world in which young people are at the heart of solution-building, policy-making and lasting change. The mission is to inspire, empower and connect young leaders to reach their full potential, shape decision-making processes and drive positive change in their communities and the world. Founded in 2011, in last more than 10 years 10,340 Young people have joined as Shapers while 6,813 are already Alumni with their involvement in respective city based hubs in 505 cities based at 152 countries around the world. In these last 10 years, GSC has made large impact with 11,493,033 people reached or mobilized, 1,953,857 people directly benefited, 45,762 working days volunteered by Shapers, 37 policies changed and 17 Global Goals advanced ( as shared on Decade of Impact Report )

Over the past decade, the Global Shapers Community has engaged thousands of young people who have self-organized for impact, delivering projects for their local communities. Shapers have attended more than 55 Regional SHAPE events, 8 Global Community Meetings and 70+ World Economic Forum Meetings.

152 Global Shapers from 31 countries will take part, along with 30 Shapers from Global Shapers Bangkok hub and leading experts and key stakeholders in the 3 impact tracks: Energy & Food Security, Tourism & Creative Economy, Wellness & Healthcare For All at Shape Asia Pacific - ShapeAPAC2023 - Rebuilding a Resilient Region. SHAPEs are regional events created by Global Shapers, for Global Shapers, to share, discuss, and learn about the region’s most pressing issues. Each year, hubs are invited to submit proposals to host their regional SHAPE event. Global Shapers Bangkok Hub won the bid to host the Shape APAC 2023 on 22 - 24 September, 2023. Similarly, several other hubs hosted the regional Shape, Kathmandu hub - Shape South Asia, Tshwane Hub  - Shape Africa, Manaus Hub - Shape Latin America, Abu Dhabi Hub - Shape MENA, Washington DC Hubs - SHAPE North America & Caribbean and Bilbao hub - Shape Europe & Eurasia. Bangkok hub is hosting Shape APAC second time after 2018 while Hanoi Hub hosted in 2014, Bandung Hub in 2015, Tokyo II Hub in 2016, Cebu Hub in 2017 and Ulaanbaatar Hub in 2019.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region faces a remarkable confluence of crises — the post-effects of the pandemic, cost of living crisis, the great resignation, climate crisis, energy shortage — leading to an era of "polycrisis," a highlight of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos. 

To prepare for these interrelated threats, leaders need to invest in solutions that build long-term resilience toward multiple risks, and hence the conception of the theme of SHAPE APAC 2023: "Rebuilding a Resilient Region”

View Your Choice team interacts with some of the organizing team from Global Shapers Bangkok Hub and and their take on Shape APAC 2023, Let's hear what they have to say  on our next blog post. 

View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई - encourages every positive influencing initiative and collaborates to generate a story to share for all our readers. 

Want to collaborate with us ? If you are one of the positive influencer or an organization driving change and creating impact or be it any initiative that you are involved with just drop a email to us at

viewyourchoice@gmail.com  

and we will get them posted after our team communicates with you. 

Follow us on Social media - Find the icons on the right corner of our blog/ web platform.