At 21, Malaysian changemaker Tyrian co-founded her first NGO in 2018 while still a senior at university. Her aim was simple yet bold: help underprivileged urban young people gain access to education and build employable skills.
Although the NGO closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tyrian left with firsthand insight into how targeted mentorship and hands-on training can transform confidence and opportunity. She witnessed shy students become public speakers and hesitant learners secure internship placements within months.
Now, Tyrian is channeling those lessons into scalable solutions. She’s designing a digital mentorship platform that connects youth mentors with experienced professionals across sectors—tech startups, creative industries, and social enterprises—using data-driven matching to pair needs with expertise.
By forging partnerships with local businesses and international nonprofits, Tyrian plans to offer virtual workshops on coding, design, language skills and career readiness. Early pilots in Kuala Lumpur have already seen participants double their job interview success rate and develop stronger professional networks.
Tyrian’s vision goes beyond one city. For her, the real win is nurturing a global generation of empowered young leaders. As she scales up, she’s calling on fellow entrepreneurs, educators and thought leaders to join this cross-border movement—because unlocking youth potential knows no boundaries.
Reference(s):
Malaysian Tyrian seeks ways to expand access to opportunity for youth
cgtn.com
