The room was filled with a quiet intensity, alive with anticipation. More than 70 young Malaysians had gathered for the first-ever Young Health Champions hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative Office for Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.
The workshop was organized to bring together youth leaders, health advocates, social media influencers and students to share ideas, learn from health experts and co-create creative solutions for a healthier Malaysia.
/countries/malaysia/pic-1.jpg?sfvrsn=e464618f_3 "Pic 1")
Youth participants gather at the first-ever Young Health Champions workshop hosted by WHO Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.
Malaysia is facing rising rates of obesity, diabetes and depression especially among young adults. Recent findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 reveal that more than four in ten Malaysian youth are overweight or obese, while depression rates have risen by over 70 percent since 2019. These findings underscore the urgent need to engage young people not just as beneficiaries of health programmes, but as leaders and changemakers shaping Malaysia’s health future.
/countries/malaysia/pic-2.jpg?sfvrsn=caeb1f82_3 "Pic 2")
Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe welcoming young participants and setting the tone for a day of learning and collaboration.
“Youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they’re already shaping how we think about health today,” said Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. “Their creativity and inspiring ways are essential in reimagining how we promote and advocate for health and well–being in addition to the prevention of diseases.”
Stories that inspire action
The young participants heard from four inspiring Malaysian icons who shared how they turn health into action in their own lives, and how these small efforts can bring about a big change in the communities and society at large.
/countries/malaysia/pic-3.png?sfvrsn=f72c57b6_3 "Pic 3")
Four inspiring Malaysian icons sharing how they champion health in their daily lives: Clockwise: Soh Wai Ching, Lee Zhi Ling, Saroop Roshi, Dr Ben Gee.
- Mr Soh Wai Ching, World Number 1 and World Champion tower runner for Malaysia, led a mobility break, a sneak peek of his warm-up routine before running up skyscrapers, and he spoke about discipline, perseverance and setting personal goals.
- Ms Lee Zhi Ling, nutritionist and healthy-eating advocate, conducted a food choices activity that shared with the participants how their daily decisions can make a big difference not just in their health, but also for their friends and loved ones.
- Dr Ben Gee, dentist and oral health advocate, highlighted the link between oral hygiene and overall well-being.
- Ms Saroop Roshi, Miss World Malaysia 2023 and mental health advocate, guided the participants through a mental health recharge session focused on self-care and emotional balance.
Their stories not just resonated with the participants but also reminded them that healthy living isn’t just about perfection, it’s about taking small and consistent steps, and supporting each other, their families and communities al large along the way to adopt healthy behaviours and take ownership of their health and wellbeing.
Turning ideas into impact
A key component of the workshop was the persona challenge, where participants explored five fictional youth personas experiencing real and relatable health issues:
- Being overweight
- Mental health challenges
- Vaping
- Lack of healthy food intake
- Sedentary lifestyle
Working in teams, the youth completed and expanded these personas using their own observations and lived experiences. They identified each persona’s main health concerns, the environments influencing their behaviour and a health vision that could help the individual change.
/countries/malaysia/pic-4.png?sfvrsn=53e5e871_3 "Pic 4")
From group discussions to final pitches, the youth worked together to turn real-life health challenges into creative, practical solutions.
This exercise and subsequent sharing helped participants develop skills to identify and prioritise health issues among youth, understand how personal and environmental factors shape health behaviours, and apply public health leadership tools to real-life situations.
Guided by WHO facilitators, participants then developed youth-led behaviour-change interventions, ranging from digital challenges and social media campaigns to community-based initiatives.
What began as a reflective activity evolved into actionable ideas during the final pitching session.
The teams presented their concepts and the audience voted for their favourites. Ideas ranged from gamified fitness challenges to creative digital storytelling that normalised conversations about mental health.
/countries/malaysia/pic-5.jpg?sfvrsn=ed7d9942_3 "Pic 5")
Highlighting the power of youth-driven solutions during the Young Health Champions session.
“Their creativity and empathy were inspiring” said Dr Ruben Ramakrishnan, Technical Officer for Health Promotion and Determinants at WHO Malaysia. “It shows that when we give young people space and trust, they come up with ideas that truly connect with their peers and are low-cost scalable solutions.”
Participants shared about their experience, with many noting that the event changed how they viewed their own role and the big impact it can create in promoting health in the country.
“The session made youth health challenges feel real, tangible and actionable. It reminded me that young people don’t just need awareness — they need supportive systems at every level to make healthy choices easy, attractive, social, and timely.” – Shiau Hueh Yeow, a young health champion.
Keeping the momentum alive
The day closed with open reflections, an awards ceremony and a networking tea, where participants visited the WHO information booth to learn more about WHO programmes in the country, leadership opportunities and upcoming youth initiatives. These ongoing efforts aim to keep young people engaged as partners in advancing Malaysia’s health and well-being agenda.
Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe reflected, “We don't see this as a one-off exercise, this should translate to something impactful. It’s not just about the ideas generated today, but we need to look at the bigger picture of how the willingness and participation of youth today can help shape a narrative not just at national, but at regional level too.”
/countries/malaysia/pic-6.jpg?sfvrsn=10062dc7_3 "Pic 6")
Youth leaders wrapping up the workshop with messages of motivation and solidarity for a healthier Malaysia.
By connecting science, lived experience, healthy alternatives and youth passion ‘Young Health Champions’ showcased the power of young Malaysians to drive real change and reminded everyone that building a healthier Malaysia starts with small steps, shared voices and collective ownership for action.