KOTA KINABALU: A 20-year-old cosmetology student from Keningau Vocational College was selected to represent Malaysia at the recent 2024 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Forum on Women and Youth Empowerment in Taipei, Taiwan.
Hosted by Taiwan's Ministry of Education, the three-day event, held from Nov 13 to 15, brought together 80 delegates and featured world-renowned speakers.
Laetitia Anwen Ng, along with her lecturer Sydney Engelbert, was part of Malaysia's delegation, both chosen by the Education Ministry.
Sydney, an English teacher, was previously named the world's best educator by the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards and she had also won the overall 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award.
Laetitia was selected for her contributions to youth volunteering, including community services, organising leadership camps in Keningau, and fundraising efforts to help cancer patients and low-income families.
She is also actively involved in international programmes that host visitors from other countries to Malaysia.
Laetitia expressed her excitement about participating in the event, which further motivated her to continue supporting her community through civic engagement and volunteering.
She plans to launch her own social enterprise, using her skills as a beautician.
The goal of the convention was to elevate the roles of women and youth in driving innovation and making impactful changes in entrepreneurship, sustainable education, and interdisciplinary skill development, with a focus on incorporating the latest technology and sustainable practices.
In addition to dialogues, workshops, and presentations, participants also took part in field trips to visit non-profit organisations and sustainable initiatives.
Laetitia's participation not only highlighted the potential of Malaysia's youth but also underscored the importance of vocational education in shaping future leaders.
The college director, Nordin Akup, thanked Laetitia and Sydney for their impactful work, which earned them the fully sponsored trip to the convention.
He added that the experience has further enriched their skill sets, particularly in incorporating the latest elements of entrepreneurship and sustainable development into their initiatives.