Shaken, Ho felt there had to be a more efficient way to handle such events. This led him to develop a unique and innovative wildfire disaster management system, which he hoped could mitigate problems like this in future.
For this and many other achievements, Ho, 25, received a Diana Award, the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts.
“It’s an incredible honour, it still feels quite surreal. For me, receiving this award is live-changing. It’s not just a trophy, but a validation of my work, and the belief that even people from a small village like me can have a global impact on the world,” Ho, who hails from the seaside village of Pontian, Johor, told FMT Lifestyle.
Ho is the only Malaysian recipient of the 2024 Diana Award, which he accepted alongside 190 young leaders from all around the globe in a virtual ceremony last month.
“It was a unique experience, broadcast live on YouTube for the world. We were all tuned in from everywhere, but there was an incredible sense of connection,” Ho said.
“Getting to hear from speakers like Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, the Diana Award CEO, and other inspiring young leaders really brought home the global significance of the award,” he added.
The most moving part of the ceremony for Ho, however, was hearing the inspiring stories from other youth recipients. He hoped to network with them for future collaborations and projects.
The Diana Award is the only charity set up in memory of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and is inspired by her belief that young people have the power to change the world.
Its mission is to empower the young to lead change through a range of initiatives which unlock their potential, inspire action and create opportunities, ensuring that no young person is left out or left behind.
Ho is a strong advocate for the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the future: beyond his work in wildfire management, he has developed assistive tools for the visually impaired, integrating AI with Internet of Things (IoT) and drone technology.
He is also founder of the Global Sustainability Organisation, which collaborates with young leaders across Asean to deliver tech solutions for non-governmental organisations worldwide.
The talented young man is also the Vice President of the Mensa Society (Johor Branch), a BeVisioneers Fellow and Local Ambassador of Asia, and an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Day National Ambassador.
Ho, the son of a driving instructor and a homemaker, is among the first generation of his family to enter university. He currently works as an AI engineer in a healthcare company.
The key to any kind of success, he said, came from being passionate about your goals, as well as having a steady support system to help you.
The young changemaker has big dreams for the future: he is currently working on a climate change initiative in Johor. His team’s goal is to develop an effective and replicable blueprint for mangrove restoration and conservation, which he hopes will be implemented across Asean regions.
He hopes to inspire future innovators, mentor young people and empower them to pursue STEM careers and create meaningful change for the world.
Asked for his advice to young people who wanted to create positive change in their societies, Ho recommended changemakers start from where they were, with the resources they had in hand.
“You don’t need a perfect brand or a huge organisation to begin. Look within your own community: what problem makes you passionate, or angry? Start there,” he said.
“Use your unique skills to make a difference. Your perspective as a young person is your greatest asset. Your actions can create ripples of change you can’t imagine,” Ho concluded.
Learn more about the Diana Awards here.