Ateneo welcomes ASEAN youth leaders for AUN Summer Camp 2025

From 15 to 28 June 2025, Ateneo de Manila University proudly hosted the ASEAN University Network (AUN) Summer Camp for the second time, continuing its mission of empowering young leaders across the region. This year, Ateneo welcomed 31 campers from nine ASEAN countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Singapore, and the Philippines.

The camp was organized by Ateneo Global, also known as the Office of the Assistant Vice President for University Partnerships and Internationalization (OAVP-UPI).

Ateneo first hosted the camp from 2 to 15 June 2024, co-organizing and co-hosting it with De La Salle University (DLSU) under the theme “Walk the Talk! Breathing Life into the UN SDGs.” That program gave participants a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities surrounding sustainable development in the ASEAN context, using the Philippines’ rich sociocultural and ecological landscape as a lens. Camp activities focused on four key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Building on this momentum, this year’s two-week camp carried the theme “LEADlab for Sustainable Futures.” With support from the Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD) centers, namely The Lily Gokongwei Ngochua Leadership Academy and the Research Institute for the Futures of Education (RIFE), the 2025 AUN Summer Camp aimed to develop future-ready leaders equipped with tools in systems thinking and futures thinking. Through hands-on workshops and collaborative learning, participants explored how to address the complex and interconnected challenges of sustainability.

One of the highlights of the camp was a cultural trip to Mount Purro Nature Reserve in Antipolo, Rizal. Campers hiked forest trails or walked along the river, planted trees, and engaged with members of the Dumagat indigenous community.

More than just a scenic excursion, the trip gave participants a deeper appreciation of the environment and the communities whose lives are most intertwined with—and vulnerable to—climate and ecological shifts. It served as a powerful reminder of the kind of leaders the world urgently needs—and the kind that LEADlab and Ateneo strive to form: leaders for others who are grounded, inclusive, and deeply committed to sustainability.

By hosting the 2025 AUN Summer Camp, Ateneo once again reaffirmed its commitment not only to sustainability but also to the holistic formation of leaders—individuals ready to serve others and shape a better future for all.

To see more photos of LEADlab for Sustainable Futures and stay up to date with Ateneo Global’s initiatives and international programs, follow us on Instagram @ateneo_global and on Facebook at Ateneo Global.