Pei’s Blog – 20 years of learning lessons

8 May 2026

“There have been difficult moments—moments of doubt, exhaustion and frustration. I remembered vividly how scared I was during the COVID lockdown. “

As we celebrate ACTAsia’s twentieth anniversary, I have been reflecting on this milestone moment and I want to share what I have learnt about taking the plunge and setting up an international charity from scratch. I find myself thinking about what we have achieved, but also how much I have personally learned, unlearned and grown along the way. What has sustained me throughout is a belief that education—rooted in compassion—can change the way we see the world and, ultimately, how we act within it. 
Looking back over the last two decades, I am incredibly proud of all that the ACTAsia team and I have achieved, but it is also an opportunity to look forward to the important work that lies ahead. 

As part of our anniversary celebrations, I was interviewed about ACTAsia’s journey and I hope it will inspire others to also take a leap of faith and fight for what they believe in.

How has the landscape changed since ACTAsia began?

When I first began my charitable work career, the topics such as animal welfare, the health link between animals, humans and the environment, and humane education were still very new concepts in Asia. There were only a small number of voices speaking and working on these issues.

Today, the conversation has expanded. Schools, educators and young people are far more open to ideas around compassion, sustainability and responsible living. Launching a campaign such as Plant Forward in Asia, the first festival of its kind in the region, would have been unthinkable twenty years ago, but now, we are seeing real traction for plant-based sustainable lifestyle changes.      

Sustainability itself has moved into the mainstream, but I still believe there is a gap between awareness and changing behaviour patterns in our day to day lives. Bridging that gap remains one of our most important tasks.

How have the problems we are facing changed/evolved in the last two decades?

In some ways, the core issues remain the same. Animals are still often seen as ‘objects’ rather than living beings. Animal suffering, environmental pressure, human conflict and violence are still intensifying, and unsustainable consumption continues to rise.

But what has changed is the scale and complexity. These issues are now far more interconnected. At the same time, I have seen awareness grow significantly. More people now recognise that animal welfare, human wellbeing and environmental sustainability are deeply linked. That shift gives me hope.

What have been the biggest challenges for you personally?

One of my greatest challenges has been patience—learning to accept that meaningful change takes time. There have also been practical challenges: limited resources in manpower and funding, juggling multiple tasks, the complexity of working across cultures, and the need to constantly translate ideas into locally relevant and meaningful forms.

At times, it has felt overwhelming but I have also learned that persistence matters just as much as vision.

What would you have done differently?

If I could go back, I would invest even earlier in building stronger partnerships and strengthening communication to spread our message. I now understand more deeply that real, lasting change cannot be delivered from the outside but by people within their own communities. 

This is why we established the Compassionate Choices Network, which brings together Asian organisations working together to reduce animal consumption, to protect humans from harm and to safeguard the environment by promoting responsible consumption and sustainable lifestyles.

What achievements are you most proud of?

I am most proud of the team and supporters who share ACTAsia’s vision for societal change. Also witnessing our work being recognised on an international stage has been a huge achievement. Over the past twenty years ACTAsia and I have won numerous awards, enhancing our credibility, increasing visibility, and validating our tremendous impact. I am proud that ACTAsia has evolved from a UK-registered charity into an international organisation with the Special Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC. I also wanted to highlight two particularly special awards. In 2021 ACTAsia’s Caring for Life (CFL) education for children programme was awarded Good Practice by the United Nations and our CFL consumer education programme was invited to be member of the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network. 

I am also incredibly proud to have written my autobiography The Life of Pei – The Battle for Compassion. It is the story of my personal learning journey that took me from my harsh upbringing under military rule in Taiwan, to achieving my aim of creating a humane education movement in China and Asia. 

What have I learned about driving social change?

I have learned that change is never linear. It moves forward, then sideways, sometimes even backwards. But it still moves. I have also learned that education is not simply about knowledge. It is about values, empathy and how we see our place in the world.

And perhaps most importantly, I have learned the importance of partnership which is why it is listed as the UN’s 17^th Sustainable Development Goal because collaboration is everything. No organisation can do this alone, we must bring like-minded governments, officials, media, businesses and academic institutions together to create change together alongside individuals.

The role of my team and supporters

ACTAsia has never been my journey alone. It has been shaped by an extraordinary team, dedicated partners, educators and supporters who believed in our work. Their commitment has carried ACTAsia through challenges and allowed it to grow in ways I could not have imagined at the beginning.

I am deeply grateful for every person who has walked this journey with us. This is why I choose the name ACTAsia which stands for Action-Compassion-Together. This principle demonstrated its true meaning when I was diagnosed with cancer in 2023. During my 18 months of tough treatment, the board members, staff members, supporters and donors all provided incredible support. 

What are the biggest challenges and opportunities ahead?

One of the biggest challenges ahead is spreading the message as to why humane education is important and urgent. Many people still think education for compassion and empathy is important, but not urgent. On the contrary, I want to shout out loud that education is the key for the long term change so that we can put an end to constantly firefighting.

At the same time, the opportunities are enormous. Digital education, youth engagement and global collaboration give us new tools to reach more people than ever before.

On a personal level, what has this 20-year journey meant to me?

There have been difficult moments—moments of doubt, exhaustion and frustration. I remembered vividly how scared I was during the COVID lockdown. I feared that ACTAsia would struggle if I could no longer travel to be on the front line and that our projects might get halted. In fact, during COVID we didn’t stop for a day. We used the opportunity to work hard to demonstrate the link between animals, the environment and human health.  COVID has taught us that if we do notprotect animals in nature then we risk human health. There have also been moments of profound joy, especially when I see ideas of compassion taking root in young minds. This journey has taught me about the values of resilience, humility and hope.

During this incredible 20-year journey I also had a daughter who was born a year after establishing ACTAsia. While I have been busy building the charity, I am also a mum who has learnt to see the world from a child’s eyes. I am pleased that I have been able to continue working for my beliefs and be a good mum, which is never easy for a woman. I want to share my journey with other female leaders to show that we can have a family, be a mum and also be a leader!

What would I say to my younger self?

I would say: be kind to yourself. Change takes longer than you think, but it also lasts longer than you imagine. Trust the process, even when progress feels invisible. Have less self-doubt and give yourself a pat on the back more often. Equality for women in today’s world still has room to grow, and women should be more encouraged and supported in pursuing their beliefs and earning the respect they deserve in society. 

What advice would I give to someone starting a mission-driven organisation today?

Don’t ever forget why you wanted to start a new organisation or business. When things get tough and challenges arise, your vision will keep you standing and help you to keep pushing forward.  Invest in people and relationships from the beginning. Build trust slowly and carefully. Then one day you can use what you have built as leverage to reach your goals with greater efficiency. And remember that impact is not created overnight—it is built step by step, through consistency and care. Here are my take away nuggets of advice for anyone wanting to help create meaningful change.

• Be true to yourself and remember why you started this journey. 
• Step out of your comfort zone to embrace new experiences.
• Build a great team with different skillsets.
• Be eternally curious as to what is happening in the world
• Realise the importance of celebrating each milestone.
• Understand that change takes time.
• Acknowledge there will be tough times.
• Be open-minded and flexible.
• Be confident with decisions taken and learn to take empathic and strategic decisions.
• Apply for awards to make your voice heard.
• The value of making connections and collaborations is key.
• Be kind to yourself as a leader especially if you are a female leader. 
• Build your support network and avoid what drains you.
• It is ok to have time to yourself and look after your own well-being. Don’t feel guilty! 

As I look to the future, I appreciate that the challenges we face are complex, but so too is our capacity for change. If the past 20 years have taught me anything, it is that compassion, when nurtured through education, has the power to create lasting transformation—often in ways we cannot immediately see. My hope for the years ahead is that ACTAsia continues to grow not only in reach, but in depth, inspiring individuals and communities to think differently, act responsibly and care more deeply for the world around them. 

If you’re inspired by our mission and wish to make a positive change, consider donating to ACTAsia. Your contribution directly fuels our efforts, ensuring that our ethical and sustainable message spreads even further. 

Support our cause and ensure a kinder future for animals, people, and our planet.

Pei Su is a Chinese sociologist and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ACTAsia, an international NGO established in 2006. She is a strong advocate of education and training as the main vehicle for long term sustainability, aiming to inspire people to understand and appreciate the world we share, and to take responsibility for the protection and preservation of its inhabitants and resources.