In November 2021, Borderless360’s Inclusive Education Initiative (IEI) team was grateful and proud to receive the ASEAN SEDP Seed Grant. The ASEAN Social Enterprise Development Programme (ASEAN SEDP) supports social enterprises throughout the ASEAN region in their journey to utilise innovation and creativity to establish the social impact that would contribute to the sustainable development agenda.

This programme was made possible with the support of GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GmbH) which provides services in international development cooperation and international education work on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and SAP, a German multinational software company. The ASEAN Foundation implemented the ASEAN SEDP to provide youth-led social enterprises in the region with a greater access to mentorship, networking and financing opportunities. 

This "Social Innovation for Sustainable ASEAN Community” programme aims to cultivate the culture of social entrepreneurship in the region. It helps to scale up youth entrepreneurship projects and support the achievement of key sustainable development goals in the region. It also aims to raise awareness of the importance of social entrepreneurship in achieving ASEAN’s vision of building a resilient, inclusive, people-oriented and people-centred community.

Borderless360’s core team of Tessa Charupatanapongse and Clary Lim, supported by our Head, Geraldine Ang, worked hard over four months of capacity building to learn from the programme mentors as well as workshops to put together a final presentation detailing our social enterprise goals and action plans for our Inclusive Education Initiative. Our initiative aims to provide equal access to quality education for ASEAN residents and beyond, with a focus on refugees, displaced communities and those in similar circumstances who have experienced disrupted learning, as well as the community they live in.

We are grateful to the ASEAN Foundation, GIZ, and SAP for their support and endorsement of our initiative. The mentorship, skills, knowledge, and financial capital awarded will enable our Borderless360 team to dive into turning our vision of an inclusive school that provides both physical and online access to quality education and holistic learning for all into reality. We have already completed Phase I of our pilot Pre-General Education Development (GED) Preparation Programme in Thailand, and are currently working with well-qualified teachers on detailed curricula. We are energized and ready to continue our work to champion the rights of refugees and other marginalized communities in the region as well as globally.

Once people leave Necoclí and Capurganá, their lives are in the hands of the smugglers who will take them through the jungle. They risk assault, sexual abuse, and even death.

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