Asia Leaders’ Academy 2025 Day 1

It’s Never Just About Cleaning Up

The Let’s Do It Leaders Academy officially opened on 17 July in Singapore, hosted by our friends at Kindred Community, with 45 incredible participants from across Asia. For many of us in the Let’s Do It Asia network, this was more than just a reunion — it was a chance to reconnect, reflect, and reimagine what leadership looks like in a movement that spans borders.

The Academy brings together country leaders, youth representatives, and local organisers from the Let’s Do It network — all united by a shared belief: that cleanups are never just about cleaning. They’re about people, systems, and transformation.

As one participant said: “We continue to volunteer because we are happy — and it’s fun!”

The morning kicked off with insights from Singapore’s own sustainability champions — blending science, policy, and grassroots activism.

🦦 N. Sivasothi (better known as Singapore’s Otterman), Senior Lecturer at the NUS Department of Biological Sciences, shared his decades-long experience with coastal and mangrove conservation. “Singapore is a petri dish of natural ecosystems,” he said, “where wild otters are happy to run along your feet on the road.” It was a reminder of the powerful relationship between cities and nature.

🧼 Dr Christina Liew, Executive Director of the Public Hygiene Council, brought in the public health perspective: “It’s not only about being aesthetically clean,” she explained. “Public cleanliness reduces the risk of diseases spreading.” Her session highlighted the often-overlooked links between hygiene, health, and civic responsibility.

📱 Yasser Amin from Stridy, a local movement-builder, then shared how a National Day cleanup during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 evolved into a tech-enabled initiative that uses data to map, track, and amplify urban cleanups. A great reminder that innovation and impact often begin with something as simple as picking up litter with friends.

🌍 The morning closed with an energising message from our own Heidi Solba, President and Head of Global Network at Let’s Do It World. From 5% of Estonia in 2008 to our bold vision of mobilising 5% of the world’s population today, Heidi reminded us: “It’s never just about cleaning up. It’s about changing the world — and that starts by looking in the mirror and changing yourself.”

In the afternoon, Merilyn Keskula from Let’s Do It World HQ led a deep dive and breakout discussion into textile waste — the official United Nations theme for World Cleanup Day 2025. Participants unpacked fast fashion’s impact across Asia and brainstormed context-specific solutions from local communities.

We ended the day with focused breakout sessions exploring how we as a regional network can strengthen volunteer engagement, build financially resilient organisations, and lead systemic change beyond one-day events.

From the biodiversity of Singapore’s coastlines to the collective wisdom in the room, Day 1 was a reminder that the Let’s Do It Asia movement is built on more than just action — it’s built on heart, collaboration, and courage.

More to come — Day 2 awaits!