These humanitarians are leading efforts to protect children and improve their lives
Every year on November 20, World Children’s Day highlights the importance of children’s rights and promotes awareness of issues and actions to improve their welfare. The United Nations calls on everyone—parents, educators, policymakers and children themselves—to participate in creating a better world for every child, everywhere by encouraging dialogue and action on issues such as access to education, health care, protection from harm and the right to be heard.
In the region, the humanitarians of Asia’s Most Influential are heeding the global celebration’s call to support and empower children. Founders, CEOs or directors of social welfare organisations, these leaders are helping children lead fuller lives through various initiatives. Among the region’s most active and visible leaders are Veronica Colondam, who provides access to digital skills that help youth escape generational poverty; in Malaysia and the Philippines, Hartini Zainudin and Bernadette Madrid have set up safe spaces for at-risk children and teens; and in Thailand, Alexander Rendall is guiding children toward purposeful lives by fostering environmental stewardship from a young age.
Chen Zicheng, founder, SKIDs Education (Taiwan)
Chen Zicheng, founder, SKIDs Education
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Chen Zicheng empowers children and their families by creating an innovative environment where personal growth and meaningful relationships thrive. The founder of Skids Education redefines childhood learning by integrating art therapy and critical thinking into the Skids curriculum, as well as offering family counselling programmes to create stronger bonds between parents and kids. A former guidance teacher and graphic designer, Chen has also established a teacher academy to make parent-child services more accessible and after-school education to provide companionship and non-academic learning to children in remote areas. A champion of female education, she founded Girls’ Day and the Skids GFF Girls’ Alliance, as well, to support about 150 girls with resources and mentorship.
