Exposure Visit of Delegates from All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia – SDG
Ten delegates from the All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia – SDG (APPGM–SDG) undertook a two-day exposure visit to ASSEFA projects to understand its grassroots development initiatives. On the first day, the delegates were given a comprehensive overview of ASSEFA, tracing its origin from the Bhoodan Movement to its evolution into a multi-dimensional development organization. The […]
Community-Led Mass Wedding for 16 couples
For the past 27 years, ASSEFA has been successfully facilitating community-led mass wedding programmes through Women Self-Help Group (SHG) Federations across rural areas in Tamil Nadu, India. The primary intention of this initiative is to address several social and economic challenges faced by families in villages. In many rural communities, several young women and men […]
Social Economy & Malaysian Society: Reflections after the special committee on Social Economy
Thirteen Malaysia Plan (13MP: 2026-2030) has specific provisions on the Third Sector and Social Economy. The lead agency for this is the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDAC). This ministry has established a Social Entrepreneurship Development Committee (SEDCOM). This is based on the idea of social enterprise and the requirements for social enterprise development. […]
Threads of Solidarity – Roots to Futures
ASSEFA, in collaboration with Action Village India (AVI), UK, organized a four-day (January 29 – February 1, 2026), International meet at its Ayyanarpuram campus, Maduri, Tamil Nadu, India under the theme ‘Threads of Solidarity – Roots to Futures.’ This International meet brought together nearly *40 development practitioners* from England, the USA, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, […]
ASEAN SDG-SSE Roadmap launched by the Third sector
Over 100 people from various ASEAN countries witnessed the launch of the ASEAN SDG SSE Roadmap gathered online this morning (27 Jan 2026). These SDG SSE actors were from Indonesia, Philipinese, Thailand and Malaysia They were also others from other ASEAN countries namely Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore, Timor Leste and Vietnam. This was really significant historical […]
A Modern Guide to the Social and Solidarity Economy
Edited by Marie J. Bouchard, Professor Emerita, Department of Organization and Human Resources, University of Quebec in Montreal, Canada and Damien Rousselière, Professor of Economics, Department of Social Sciences, L’Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, France Publication Date: January 2026 ISBN: 978 1 03531 089 0 Extent: 344 pp This Modern Guide presents a comprehensive synthesis of contemporary […]
A discussion on the Korean Social Impact Bonds (SIB) and the relevance for the Philippines
On December 9, 2025 there was an online conversation between the Koreans and Filipinos on Social Impact Bonds (SIB). The discussion was moderated by Dr. Benjamin Quiñones, Jr. Founder, Asian Solidarity Economy Council (ASEC). The speaker was Ms. Jinkyung Choi, Senior Program Manager, International Relations. Korea Social Value and Solidarity Foundation (SVF). Part 1 – […]
Resilience at the grassroots: Riding the tide of challenges and hardships
Reflections from a recent visit to Sri Lanka Ms Lydia Ann & Mr Paniirselvam from Malaysia were in Sri Laka for the 28th Asia Pacific Social Work Conference held in Colombo from Nov 18 to 21, 2025. They were representing the APPGM-SDG Secretariat which is an active partner of Asian Solidarity Economy Council (ASEC) During […]
Conference on Cross Border Solidarity in Southeast Asia
A three day Southeast Asian Conference on Alternatives was organised by MASSA – Movement for Alternatives and Solidarity in Southeast Asia from Nov November 11-13, 2025 at Siem Reap, Cambodia The theme of this conference: Cross-Border Solidarity for Peace, Culture and People’s Alternatives in Southeast Asia. (More details in the attachment) Dr Eri Trinurini (ASEC/ASSEC) […]
ASEAN Solidarity in Action: Insights from the 2025 Philippine Social Enterprise Roadmap Conference
Technology Innovations in Social Enterprise and the Social and Solidarity Economy for the SDGs Manila, Philippines — November 5–7, 2025 By Ms Zoel Ng, Director of MySDG Academy The 2025 Philippine Social Enterprise Roadmap Conference brought together mission-driven actors across ASEAN to reimagine how innovation, community solidarity, and digital transformation can drive the Social and […]