JAKARTA – Applications for the U.S.-sponsored Fall 2023 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellowship program are now open through April 17, 2023. The YSEALI Academic Fellowship is an intensive short-term academic program which provides groups of young leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States and a particular theme, while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills. Since Spring 2015, hundreds of Indonesian YSEALI members have joined fellows from other ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste to complete a YSEALI Academic Fellowship on one of three themes: Civic Engagement, Environmental Issues, and Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Development.
“The YSEALI Academic Fellowship is the U.S. government’s signature program bringing exceptional young leaders from Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, to the United States to further develop their professional and leadership skills,” said U.S. Embassy Spokesperson Michael D. Quinlan. “The scholarship covers visas, airline tickets, living costs, tuition fees, insurance, and other expenses related to academic activities during the program.”
Celebrating its 10th year anniversary in 2023, YSEALI builds the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthens ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurtures a community of leaders who work across borders to solve shared issues through a variety of programs and engagements. YSEALI programs, along with other U.S.-sponsored people-to-people initiatives, showcase the U.S government’s commitment to strengthening ties among the combined one billion people of the United States and Southeast Asia.
The five-week fellowship programs consist of a balanced series of seminar discussions, readings, group presentations, and lectures. The coursework and classroom activities are complemented by educational travel, site visits, leadership activities, and volunteer opportunities within the local community. During the academic residency, participants also have opportunities to engage in educational and cultural activities outside of the classroom. If conditions allow, Fellowships include an educational study tour to other areas of the United States where participants meet with local, state, private, and nonprofit organizations working in the field.
“YSEALI gave me an opportunity to enhance my leadership skills and empower me to be a more visionary Deaf woman leader in Indonesia,” said Nissi Taruli Felicia Naibaho, YSEALI’s first Deaf fellow who is originally from Jakarta and went on a Civic Engagement-themed fellowship at the University of Nebraska at Omaha last August. “After completing the program, YSEALI gave me a wider and bigger network. I can collaborate with more communities and organizations to make Indonesia more inclusive.”
YSEALI members aged 18-25 who are who are current students, or who graduated from university less than five years ago are eligible to apply for YSEALI Academic Fellowship program. Underserved communities, including indigenous groups and candidates with disabilities, are also encouraged to apply. More information on how to apply can be found here.
