About AirAsia Foundation
Philanthropic Arm of AirAsia
We exist to accelerate positive social change. Through funding, business support, and our ever-growing network, we seek to enhance local communities.
We also provide humanitarian assistance, advocate for sustainable tourism, and support critical causes such as anti-human trafficking. We are dedicated to preserving cultural heritage and fostering sustainable livelihoods, guided by our mission pledge: Planting hope, nurturing communities.
Our Vision
Building resilient communities of the future by helping them thrive and growing together in the Asean destinations we serve.
Supporting Social Entrepreneurship
Creating a support system to grow and strengthen social entrepreneurship across Asean.
Mitigating Negative Impact
Minimising the social risks linked to AirAsia’s business, with an emphasis on international human trafficking.
Building Community Resilience
Providing post-disaster relief and rehabilitation support for affected communities.
Our Focus
What We Do
Our Team
The people behind the impact
We nurture social enterprises by tackling issues from the environment to poverty. We help entrepreneurs grow their brands, reach new markets, and build ethical businesses. Through community-based tourism and sustainable products, we work to make AirAsia’s core business fairer and inclusive.
Meet our team responsible for growing our footprint across countries in Asean.
Yap Mun Ching
Executive Director
Mun Ching founded AirAsia Foundation to transform how businesses contribute to society. Trained in politics and economics, she champions making social enterprises mainstream.
Elaine Tan
Grants & Business Development
Elaine has over 7 years’ experience in product strategy and sustainability in the banking sector. In her spare time, she loves the outdoors, especially hiking and camping.
Lilian Chen
Projects & Business Development
Lilian Chen previously co-founded and led a Malaysian social enterprise, transitioning from a background in chiropractic to social entrepreneurship while working closely with rural and indigenous farmers to build sustainable market access for heirloom produce; in her free time, she enjoys exploring nature with her dog.
Our Trustees
Trusted Asean leaders, united for social good
Our Council of Trustees is made up of Asean citizens who have made significant social and professional contributions in their countries. From entrepreneurs to lawyers, they bring valuable expertise and local insight to guide our team and grantees.
Sunit Shrestha
Thailand
Sunit Shrestha has over 10 years of experience supporting social innovation and investment. He is the Founder and Managing Director of ChangeFusion and was part of several key social innovation initiatives in Thailand, including the Thai Social Enterprise Promotion Board, B-KIND Funds (pioneer Thai ESG mutual funds with venture philanthropy structure) and Taejai.com, Thailand’s largest crowdfunding platform for social causes.
Attorney Katrina Legarda
Philippines
In her 30-year career, Atty. Katrina chalked up many firsts in the Philippine’s legal history upholding the rights of women and children. Her experiences inspired her to found the Child Justice League to provide free legal aid to abused children. Katrina also shares her infectious spirit and legal know-how through professorships at five universities in Manila.
Our Highlights
Annual Milestones
2019
Tun M visits AirAsia RedQ
In 2019, then Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad visited AirAsia’s headquarters, RedQ. During the visit, AirAsia Foundation showcased an augmented reality shopping application developed by our grantee Opendream, enabling users to explore products and artisan stories. On behalf of AirAsia, we presented the Prime Minister with a limited-edition aviator jacket crafted from upcycled AirAsia seat leather. The jacket was produced in collaboration with Malaysian design house Projek Jahat under the GOOD/jahat/ label.
2017
Destination: GOOD Pop-up @klia2
On 25th August 2017, we officially launched our Destination GOOD social enterprise pop-up shop at KLIA2. The pop up ran for six month allowing us to provide our partner organisations with an international platform while jointly marking ASEAN’s 50th anniversary in a meaningful way.Destination GOOD carries over 200 products from 25 Asean social enterprises. Purchase now at: www.destinationgood.com
2016
Jagalan Festival 2016
In 2016, the inaugural Jagalan Festival was launched by ArkomJogja and the local community to showcase Kotagede’s rich cultural heritage through architecture, film, and the arts. The festival drew over 1,000 visitors, including many first-time travelers to Kotagede. Traditional artisans and performers, such as the Selaka Kotagede silversmiths, led participatory workshops for visitors. As the main festival partner, we hosted travel and marketing sessions to share our expertise with local youth.
2015
Destination: GOOD – ASEAN Social Enterprise in Kuala Lumpur
The conference brought together leading ASEAN entrepreneurs, incubators, and social enterprises for a panel discussion on the social enterprise framework and the role of big businesses in supporting sector growth. It was followed by a Marketplace where more than 30 social enterprises from across ASEAN showcased and sold their products and services. The program concluded with a two-day workshop led by subject matter experts and AirAsia business partners, completing the participants’ experience.
Jagalan Tlisih Heritage Walks Launch
The Jagalan Tilsih Heritage Walks was launched in 2015 and officiated by the Governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono. Centered in Jagalan Village within the Kotagede District, the program emerged from a series of mapping, survey, and documentation activities carried out by our grantee ArkomJogja, in collaboration with members of the local youth association, Karang Taruna Jagalan. The trail showcases the village’s distinctive architectural, cultural, and historical heritage.
2014
‘To Philippines with Love’ Press Conference
Five months after launching our largest humanitarian campaign for Typhoon Haiyan rehabilitation in 2014, we returned to Tacloban to share the results and meet local staff and survivors.
The AirAsia team, led by Group CEO Tony Fernandes, was joined by Senator Panfilo Lacson, Mayor Alfredo Romualdez and representatives from our beneficiary partners, including the Philippine Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity Philippines, Hapinoy and Rags2Riches. Following a press conference at Tacloban Airport, the group visited Anibong Village, one of the worst-hit communities slated for relocation to safer ground.
AirAsia on Bikes
5 AirAsia Allstars joined an international team of riders in the 2014 Mekong Delta Bike Tour using bamboo mountain bikes made by our grantee Thien Chi. Over 8 days, the team cycled more than 400km across towns and villages between Cambodia and Vietnam. Organised by Vietnam-based NGO Mekong Plus, the team also visited social enterprises and schools for a unique learning and sharing experience.
2013
Completing second and third social enterprise grant
In 2013, we awarded our second and third social enterprise grants to Tonibung in Malaysia and Rags2Riches (R2R) in the Philippines. The grant to Tonibung enabled the organisation to start a hire-purchase scheme that allowed indigenous communities to acquire micro-hydro turbines to bring clean, renewable energy to their villages. The grant to R2R supported 100 additional artisans in creating new products. In addition, two R2R for AirAsia Foundation exclusive bag designs were available on board AirAsia flights starting July 2013.
2012
Cambodian Large Shadow Puppet Performance @ George Town Festival
AirAsia Foundation brought Cambodia’s Wat Bo Sbaek Thom, or Large Shadow Puppet Troupe, to perform at the 2012 George Town Festival. They staged an episode from the Reamker, the Khmer adaptation of the Hindu classic Ramayana. The initiative was carried out in collaboration with Cambodian Living Arts, one of our earliest social enterprise grantees and an organisation dedicated to professionalising traditional art forms.