Asian Young Leaders for Human Fraternity (AYLHF)

AYLHF brings together young leaders across Asia to build friendships and foster mutual respect across cultures and religions. Find out how this annual initiative shapes empathetic, globally aware leaders.

Last updated 21 September 2026

Large group of school students in uniforms posing together in a hall, with some wearing black Student Leader shirts.

A group of adults poses in front of a large school hall filled with hundreds of students in white uniforms.

The Asian Young Leaders for Human Fraternity (AYLHF) is a youth impact initiative by AES. It was inspired by the landmark “Document On Human Fraternity For World Peace And Living Together”, jointly signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayyeb in Feb 2019 to urge peace among all people in the world.

AYLHF provides a platform for young leaders of Asia to connect and communicate with each other, building bonds and forging friendships, regardless of race, language, religion or nationality. This promotes the importance of mutual understanding and respect, and raises the awareness of building human fraternity.

AYLHF cultivates essential 21st Century Competencies (21CC) by grounding its activities in the core principles of inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue. Through immersive workshops and collaborative projects, the programme challenges students to engage in respectful communication and deep listening with peers from vastly different backgrounds. This process naturally sharpens their critical thinking as they analyse complex social issues and navigate diverse worldviews. By working together on initiatives that promote social cohesion, participants develop strong collaboration skills and a profound sense of global awareness, shaping them into empathetic and adaptable leaders prepared to build bridges in a diverse world.

When launched in 2023 in conjunction with AES’ 70th anniversary and International Friendship Day, it was the first of such youth impact initiatives in Singapore.

AYLHF is now an annual event keenly looked forward to by all staff and students from AES and our partner schools, including:

St. Joseph Junior High School (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Waringin Junior High School (Bandung, Indonesia)
Kebon Dalem Junior High School (Semarang, Indonesia)
Kindai University Junior High School (Osaka, Japan)
Montfort College (Chiang Mai, Thailand)
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road), Singapore
Crest Secondary School, Singapore

One key highlight of the AYLHF includes the making of local hawker delight, popiah, together. The coming together of various ingredients in popiah forms a delectable dish that pleases the palette of many. In addition, the mass assembly programme in the school hall showcases cultural performances by each school which all students enjoy!

Find out more about AYLHF here (opens in new tab).

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Two uniformed students present on stage with a slide reading "Sharing by Waringin Junior High School (Indonesia, Bandung)."

Students in white uniforms with lanyards play with kendama toys at a red table while others watch.

A student in uniform practices calligraphy with a brush while peers in lanyards watch closely.

Students in white uniforms gather around a red table practicing calligraphy with ink on white paper in a large hall.

Three teenage boys in white school uniforms hold colorful paper origami cranes while smiling at the camera.

A group of smiling adults wearing plastic gloves sit around a blue-covered table with food in a large hall.

Students in school uniforms wearing plastic gloves gather around a blue-covered table with food during a cooking activity.

Students in white uniforms wearing plastic gloves prepare food on plates around a blue-covered table in a large hall.

Students in white uniforms sit at round red-clothed tables in a large indoor hall during a school event.

Four school students in uniforms collaborate around a table covered with papers, writing and drawing together.

Students in traditional batik skirts perform a dance on stage before a large seated audience under a school banner.

Students in black shirts and traditional headpieces perform on stage under a "Stronger Together" banner before a large audience.

Students in blue robes perform Soran Bushi dance on stage before a large seated audience, with a projected screen behind them.

Students perform on stage with arms raised before a seated audience under a "Stronger Together" banner.

Four people stand together on a stage, smiling, as two of them hold a colorful illustrated book or artwork.

Two men smile while holding a colorful children's painting on a stage with a projected artwork background.

Two people hold a colorful painted artwork together in front of an Assumption English school presentation screen.

Two smiling men hold a colorful floral painting together in front of an Assumption English school banner.

Two smiling men hold a colorful painting featuring butterflies and hands on a rainbow background.