Max Han Kai Ding

Max grew up in Malaysia wearing masks due to the haze from the deforestation in Southeast Asia. Having asthma, he was often hospitalized and would have to miss school. By age 10, he could expertly read Air Pollution Indices, relentlessly tracking the weather in the hope of returning to school. At age 15, he started studying Malaysia’s pollution and worked with children and conservationists in Langkawi and Pulau Perhentian. Through working with young people, Max found that whatever they lacked in experience, they made up for with passion towards climate action – they just needed to be empowered.  

According to UNICEF Malaysia, 90% of Malaysian youths are affected by climate change but underrepresented in decision-making. To tackle this problem, Max decided to co-found Youths United For Earth (YUFE), a nonprofit that mobilises youth for environmental action through storytelling, campaigns and advocacy. Many Malaysian young people are doing incredible but underreported work, and Max amplifies these stories in local contexts and languages. When young people see their peers as changemakers, they become inspired to act. Over the past four years, Max’s programme has connected more than 300 undergraduates with over 200 environmental leaders worldwide, prioritising marginalised groups such as low-income and indigenous students. By providing one-on-one guidance and practical career advice, undergraduates have found internships or jobs, and even launched their own eco-startups. Max has also reached 50,000 people through campaigning alongside other local NGOs. On a policy level, he is also involved in drafting Southeast Asia’s first ever ASEAN Declaration on the right to a safe, clean, and sustainable environment.  

Max’s achievements have been widely recognised. He was selected from 17,000 candidates for the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellowship from the U.S. Department of State. This enabled Max to work on environmental challenges with U.S. policymakers, academics and changemakers in Hawaii and Washington, D.C. Most recently, Max was honored with the Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. He also appeared on Tatler's Gen T List 2024, which recognises Leaders of Tomorrow shaping Asia’s future, including trailblazing entrepreneurs and creatives. 

If he wins the Global Student Prize, Max will use the funds to expand and scale his current projects in a way that would magnify their impact. He envisions expanding the YUFE Mentorship Program into a comprehensive platform that would provide mentorship for students and young environmental leaders across Southeast Asia. He would also develop a sophisticated Learning Management System to enhance the mentorship program, featuring AI algorithms to match mentors and mentees and support their learning. Finally, Max would devote part of the prize funds to support youth in rural areas of Malaysia and help other Malaysian storytellers share their insights on the global stage, raising awareness of the unique environmental challenges facing the region.