Robert Nelson Leung (3 BS AMDSc) and teammates win 1st Prize in 1st ASEAN-China-India Youth Leadership Summit

Here is another proud moment for the Ateneo Department of Mathematics. Robert Nelson Leung (3 BS AMF, San Ignacio de Loyola - Merit scholar) and his team mates emerged as the top team of the competition and was awarded 1st Prize during the 1st ASEAN-China-India Youth Leadership Summit (ACIYLS) held in Singapore last 29 October to 3 November 2023.

Leung was joined by his team mates from other countries, namely, Rizaldy Zaldy (Indonesia), Gabriel Marquez (Thailand), Jaclyn Yam (Malaysia), Ameerah Redzuan (Brunei), and Qiu Xinyi (China). The final round challenge was to propose an idea that will have to be pitched to two separate panels of judges, each composed of professors, industry experts, and other professionals. Leung's group, known as Team 21, focused on sustainable fashion in relation to SDG 12, which is about sustainable production and consumption. 

Leung has this to say about his whole experience in ACIYLS 2023: "While, all-in-all, I found the experience worthwhile, I have to admit that it demanded much more from me than I expected. Throughout the event we were judged and mentored by experts in the field of sustainability, many of whom were not afraid to tear down our ideas and find faults in our proposals. It was more than challenging to keep up morale, face critiques that made us start from scratch over and over again, and finish everything within 48 hours all while struggling with cultural and linguistic barriers. In the end, my takeaway-and what I think was the key to our group's success-is that sometimes giving up on the wrong idea is the scariest choice you can make, but the choice you have to make to move forward."

Designed to challenge the youth to create solutions while learning cross cultural awareness and developing their entrepreneurial mindset, ACIYLS 2023 brought together 180 youths across 12 countries. The event also became a great opportunity to have meaningful discussions on the current progress of the ASEAN-China-India countries in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The event included an indoor and outdoor sustainability quest, sustainability forum, and a 40-hour sustainability startathon. 

Two other students from the Department of Mathematics, namely, Azzedine Abrencillo (4 BS AMF, DOST scholar) and David Africa (M AMDSc, BS AMDSc '23) also participated in the summit and made it to the Top 15. 

Photos courtesy of ACIYLS 2023, Azzy Abrencillo, and Tobi Leung.