Investing in Children for a Better Future in ASEAN: Insights from UNICEF Ambassador Choi Siwon

2023-09-04 16:58:30

Jakarta

Regional Ambassador to UNICEF East Asia and Pacific, Choi Siwon, became one of the speakers at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit which is a series of ASEAN Summits. Siwon invites all ASEAN country leaders and dialogue partners to invest in children.

This well-known K-Pop artist from South Korea explained that there are two things that need attention regarding children’s issues. First, state leaders must ensure that children grow up healthy so that they are able to learn many skills supported by adequate educational facilities.

“Children become more creative in learning every lesson they receive at every level of their education,” said Siwon in a written statement, Monday (4/9/2023).

Siwon said that the added value of investing in elementary school children could be up to 10 times.

“We know, for example, that every $1 invested in pre-primary education for children adds tenfold value to society,” he explained.

Second, continued Siwon, national leaders must provide children with a sense of security from the effects of climate change that is currently happening in various parts of the world. This is done by giving vaccines to every child so as to avoid various disease threats that can occur due to climate change.

Siwon emphasized that these two things are investments that are needed in creating quality human resources (HR) in the world.

“Here I share a vision so that all countries can ensure that all children grow up healthy and safe from the effects of climate change,” said Siwon.

Siwon also believes that if these two things can be done by all stakeholders together then the children will become more resilient in facing various challenges in the future.

“Joint collective action is needed to invest in children to become more qualified in the 2025 ASEAN era,” said Siwon.

Over the past few years, continued Siwon, philanthropists and UNICEF have struggled to provide these two things to children around the world. As a result, it can reduce immoral acts against children by up to 50 percent.

Then, giving vaccines to as many as 90 percent of the world’s children over the past 20 years so they can be more immune to disease.

The efforts made by UNICEF are able to have a positive impact on the gap that exists between the rich and the poor. “UNICEF reaches as many as 190 countries to help children there,” said Siwon.

He added that investing in children could improve long-term economic prospects, including in Southeast Asia.

It is known, the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit Day 2 is an additional agenda in the 2023 ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) which will be held on 2-7 September 2023.

ABIS is a series of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit which took place from 5-7 September 2023 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC).

(he/she)

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