About the Program
The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP) is a two-way U.S. Department of State exchange program designed to strengthen people-to-people ties between young leaders from Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, and the United States. Through virtual activities and intensive fellowships designed to broaden their professional expertise and enhance their leadership capabilities, YSEALI PFP provides emerging Southeast Asian leaders with the opportunity to gain first-hand experiences in, and exposure to, U.S. public and private sector offices working on a variety of issues related to Civic Engagement; Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Empowerment; Society and Governance; and Sustainability and the Environment. Follow-on reciprocal exchanges provide select American professionals the opportunity to visit Southeast Asia to further enhance two-way exchange, support, and knowledge sharing with YSEALI PFP alumni in their home communities.
YSEALI PFP is planned to be administered as a hybrid program, which will include virtual activities and an in-person U.S.-based Institute. Applicants must have reliable internet connectivity to participate in virtual activities. Applicants will select one of two possible program cycles in 2025.
Important: The in-person, U.S.-based Institute is contingent upon favorable travel conditions. In the event of travel restrictions, or others factors which could adversely impact the health, safety and welfare of program participants and hosts, YSEALI PFP will pivot the in-person, U.S.-based exchange to virtual programming.
Overview
About YSEALI
Launched in 2013, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is the U.S. government’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in Southeast Asia. Through a variety of programs and engagements, including U.S. educational and cultural exchanges, regional exchanges, and seed funding, YSEALI seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurture an ASEAN community.
Program Elements
Leadership and Professional Development Curriculum
The program will begin with a virtual program launch to provide an overview of the virtual activities
Fellows will participate in Leading Change, an online leadership course designed to strengthen competencies in community action, leadership, management, and media literacy
Fellows will participate in a personalized virtual Alumni Mentor Program to receive guidance before, during, and after the program and facilitate their immersion into the broader alumni network
Fellows will participate in a professional development session and one-on-one calls with American experts prior to the U.S.-based Institute
Professional Fellowship Institute
Fellows will participate in a virtual Pre-Departure Orientation as well as an arrival orientation and integrated professional study tour in a U.S. city
Fellows will spend four weeks in an individually tailored fellowship experience working in a U.S. placement host organization
Fellows will participate in a community service opportunity to engage with a U.S. community and participate in civic engagement
Fellows will develop a follow-on Action Plan proposal to complete a project that meets a specific objective and builds on their participation in the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program
Fellows will have a home hospitality experience with an American host family
YSEALI Fellows Forum (YFF)
At the conclusion of the YSEALI PFP Institutes, Fellows will participate in a program-wide conference called the YSEALI Fellows Forum (YFF)
The YFF will bring together Fellows from across all four Institute themes for the opportunity to network and collaborate
The YFF offers exposure to speakers and workshops designed to further Fellows’ professional competencies
Alumni Engagement Opportunities
Fellows will design follow-on Action Plans to address challenges encountered in their home community
Fellows will be eligible to invite a U.S. placement host from the fellowship placement to implement a Reciprocal Exchange Project in the Fellow’s home community
Fellows will be eligible to participate in Regional Alumni Accelerator Workshops
Program Dates
YSEALI PFP will be administered in two cycles in 2025. Applicants may only participate in one of the two program cycles. Applicants must indicate their preferred cycle (Cycle 1 or Cycle 2) in their application.
Cycle 1: Virtual activities for cycle 1 will tentatively launch in February 2025, with approximately one live session per month throughout the duration of the program. Some professional asynchronous activities may accompany each live session. The U.S.-based exchange is tentatively scheduled from April 28 – June 4, 2025.
Cycle 2: Virtual activities for cycle 2 will tentatively launch in June 2025, with approximately one live session per month throughout the duration of the program. Some professional asynchronous activities may accompany each live session. The U.S.-based exchange is tentatively scheduled from September 22 – October 29, 2025.
