Growing up in a B40 household, Pravhilan Gunasekaran knew that achieving his dreams would take hard work and determination. With his father working as a taxi driver and his mother as a housewife, opportunities did not always come easily. However, he never allowed his family’s financial situation to stop him from pursuing his education and ambitions.
Today, his journey stands as an inspiring example for young Malaysians, following his selection as Malaysia’s sole representative at the Global Youth Diplomacy Forum: Paris Edition 2026, organized by the Youth Diplomatic Academy in France.
As a National SMC YouthCore Leader, Pravhilan was also awarded a partially funded scholarship for the international forum, which brings together young leaders from more than 50 countries.
The forum offers participants opportunities to learn about diplomacy, international relations, public policy, and global governance through leadership workshops, policy discussions, and diplomatic simulations. It also provides a platform to engage with diplomats, ambassadors and international affairs experts.
A Journey Shaped by Hard Work and Education
As the eldest of 4 siblings, Pravhilan grew up understanding the importance of education and the opportunities it would create.
Despite facing financial challenges, he worked hard in school, achieving 7As in SPM and a CGPA of 3.85 in Matriculation.
His academic achievements later earned him a full scholarship from Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman (YTAR) to pursue a degree in International Relations at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), where he graduated with Second Class Upper Honours
Today, Pravhilan works as a Senior Assistant in Licensing & Content Compliance at Astro, handling responsibilities related to regulatory compliance, licensing, governance and policy implementation.
However, his passion for making a difference goes beyond his professional career.
Giving Back to the Community That Shaped Him
While building his own career, Pravhilan has remained committed to helping younger generations access better opportunities.
Through his role as a National SMC YouthCore Leader with Sri Murugan Centre (SMC), he has worked with students from more than 40 Tamil Schools across Malaysia, organising leadership camps, educational programmes, and personal development activities.
He has also led Malay literacy programmes, scholarship and university preparation workshops for underprivileged students and national education seminars that have reached approximately 700 students.
His involvement extends to national discussions, including the MyDiplomacy National Youth Roundtable Discussions, where he contributed ideas on youth participation in governance and national-building.
For someone who understands the challenges of growing up with limited financial resources, helping other students discover their potential has become an important part of his journey.
Carrying Malaysian Youth Voices Beyond Borders
Pravhilan’s selection for the Paris forum represents more than a personal achievement. It is also an opportunity to bring Malaysian youth perspectives to an international platform.
Through the experience, he hopes to gain knowledge and build connections that can help strengthen youth leadership and educational programs back home, particularly through SMC YouthCore.
His journey also carries a message for young people who may feel that their financial circumstances limit what they can achieve. From a B40 household to an opportunity on the international stage, Pravhilan Gunasekaran’s story shows how education, determination and a willingness to give back can open doors that once seemed out of reach.
Most importantly, his achievements are not just about how far he has come, but also about how many youths he continues to help along the way.
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