YSEALI Professional Fellows Program

Deadline: August 5, 2022

Overview

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 2023. 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 2023, 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 24 – June 2, 2023 (pending travel restrictions).

• Cycle 2: Virtual activities for cycle 2 will tentatively launch in June 2023, 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 4 – October 13, 2023 (pending travel restrictions).

Eligibility

• Be a citizen and resident of one of the eleven YSEALI nations: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam. Applicants living outside of the eleven eligible countries or on a long-term program will not be considered eligible to apply.

• Be an emerging leader in government, civil society, or the private sector who has demonstrated expertise pertaining to the respective theme under which he/she is applying.

• Be currently employed with at least two years of relevant professional experience at the time of application.

• Be between 25 and 35 years old at the start of the program (born on/after March 1, 1986 and no later than March 1, 1997).

• Be self-directed and able to work effectively in a cross-cultural setting.

• Be able to identify an objective/project of their own selection that the applicant would like to implement in their home workplace or community.

• Have demonstrated proficiency in both written and oral English.

• Have demonstrated leadership and collaborative skills.

Official Link: Click Here

Registration: Click Here