HONOLULU (April 10, 2019) -- Several former participants in East-West Center programs have been featured in recent editions of Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list for young entrepreneurs in Asia who are “leveraging business tools to solve the region's problems.”

Included in the recently released 2019 list are Sorawit Paiboonrattanakorn from Thailand and Wen Shin Chia from Malaysia, who were both participants in the US State Department-funded environmental and social entrepreneurship programs run by EWC leadership staff, and Florence Van Dyke, a 2018 participant in EWC’s Changing Faces women’s leadership program. This year’s honorees join another Changing Faces alumna, Viola Cheng from Taiwan, who was honored in the 2018 list.

About the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia List:
Starting with over 2,000 online nominations, 300 finalists were selected by a judging panel of distinguished entrepreneurs and business leaders, taking into consideration criteria such as demonstration of leadership, impact, potential of success and the embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit. Rising stars from 23 countries and across 10 industries made up this year’s list.

About the EWC honorees:

Sorawit Paiboonrattanakorn, 29, who participated in last year’s Impact XL social entrepreneurship workshop in Myanmar, is the founder and CEO of Saturday School, a social enterprise he started in 2014 to ensure vulnerable and marginalized children stay in school and gain the necessary life skills to equip them for the future. Through employing teachers and training volunteers, the organization has reached over 3,000 children in poor areas in Bangkok.

Wen Shin Chia, 27, who participated in the SUSI environmental leadership program several years ago, is the founder of Green Yards, an eco-products company that makes soaps and candles from recycled cooking oil. The company, which she started as a university project, sources the oil from Malaysia's restaurants and households and sells the products online and in gift shops in the country.

Florence Van Dyke, 29, a 2018 participant in EWC’s Changing Faces women’s leadership seminar, was a star triathlete and corporate lawyer in New Zealand when her sister Chloe founded CHIA, a healthy energy drink brand that produces bottled juices with hydrated chia seeds. Florence now serves as the company’s CEO and has overseen entry into new markets.

2017 Changing Faces participant Viola Cheng, 31, is the founder of Taiwan’s Good Food Enterprises which uses technology to manage chain restaurants and staff. Her focus is on employing the financially or socially disadvantaged, solving food waste, and encouraging environmental sustainability. She is also behind the Good Share app, which helps shops and restaurants donate soon-to-be outdated food.

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HONOLULU (April 10, 2019) -- Several former participants in East-West Center programs have been featured in recent editions of Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list for young entrepreneurs in Asia who are “leveraging business tools to solve the region's problems.”

Included in the recently released 2019 list are Sorawit Paiboonrattanakorn from Thailand and Wen Shin Chia from Malaysia, who were both participants in the US State Department-funded environmental and social entrepreneurship programs run by EWC leadership staff, and Florence Van Dyke, a 2018 participant in EWC’s Changing Faces women’s leadership program. This year’s honorees join another Changing Faces alumna, Viola Cheng from Taiwan, who was honored in the 2018 list.

About the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia List:
Starting with over 2,000 online nominations, 300 finalists were selected by a judging panel of distinguished entrepreneurs and business leaders, taking into consideration criteria such as demonstration of leadership, impact, potential of success and the embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit. Rising stars from 23 countries and across 10 industries made up this year’s list.

About the EWC honorees:

Sorawit Paiboonrattanakorn, 29, who participated in last year’s Impact XL social entrepreneurship workshop in Myanmar, is the founder and CEO of Saturday School, a social enterprise he started in 2014 to ensure vulnerable and marginalized children stay in school and gain the necessary life skills to equip them for the future. Through employing teachers and training volunteers, the organization has reached over 3,000 children in poor areas in Bangkok.

Wen Shin Chia, 27, who participated in the SUSI environmental leadership program several years ago, is the founder of Green Yards, an eco-products company that makes soaps and candles from recycled cooking oil. The company, which she started as a university project, sources the oil from Malaysia's restaurants and households and sells the products online and in gift shops in the country.

Florence Van Dyke, 29, a 2018 participant in EWC’s Changing Faces women’s leadership seminar, was a star triathlete and corporate lawyer in New Zealand when her sister Chloe founded CHIA, a healthy energy drink brand that produces bottled juices with hydrated chia seeds. Florence now serves as the company’s CEO and has overseen entry into new markets.

2017 Changing Faces participant Viola Cheng, 31, is the founder of Taiwan’s Good Food Enterprises which uses technology to manage chain restaurants and staff. Her focus is on employing the financially or socially disadvantaged, solving food waste, and encouraging environmental sustainability. She is also behind the Good Share app, which helps shops and restaurants donate soon-to-be outdated food.

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