The previous two posts in this series examined the origins of the Arequipa Goals and the results of a survey assessing progress after one year of implementation. The survey revealed strong awareness of the Goals but inconsistent follow-through, particularly in the areas of labor market participation and vocational training. This post offers four recommendations for closing that gap. 1. Establish funding that does not disappear when priorities shift There is substantial eviden

In the first post of this series, we introduced the Arequipa Goals: APEC's 2030 roadmap for strengthening disability education and employment policy across the region, built around three pillars of education, capacity building, and labor and social protection. We left off with a survey circulated to APEC's Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG) and Friends of the Chair (FotC) on August 19, 2025, designed to take stock of progress 15 months after adoption. The sur

Photo Credit: Taiwan Panorama (2021) In May 2024, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) adopted the Arequipa Goals, a landmark initiative aimed at advancing disability education and employment across the region. The APEC Ministers in 2024 and subsequently in May 2025 the APEC Ministers during the 7th Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting and the 7th APEC Education Ministerial Meeting, reaffirmed their commitment towards Arequipa Goals. The Arequipa Goal

Together Towards Tomorrow had the great opportunity to sit down with Mr. Christopher Lu, United States Ambassador to the United Nations for Management and Reform, to discuss the United Nations’ (UN) progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how youth can contribute to making the world a better place. In the interview, Ambassador Lu shed light on some of the world's most pressing challenges and offered advice on how youth can become involved in addressi

Official NDEAM Poster (credit: Department of Labor) October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a month that recognizes contributions of workers with disabilities and promotes inclusive employment policies and practices. Established by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), NDEAM serves as a reminder that accessibility, equity, and inclusion strengthen both workplaces and communities. This year’s NDEAM theme, “Celebrating

Photo from PPAC Central July is Disability Pride Month. It’s a time to celebrate people with disabilities, recognize their strength and...

By Amelia Cho Fingers delicately moving across the strings, each note stands as a testament to an unwavering drive for creating music...

By Amelia Cho Introduction Every four years, the world comes together to witness athletes push the limits of human capability. The...

By Audrey Li When discussing making the world a better place, youth are often at the forefront, driving change with passion and purpose....