Ambassador Blake and Minister of Education Anies Baswedan opened a Young Southeast Asian Leaders Iintiative (YSEALI) forum on teaching vulnerable youth in unconventional settings on August 12th for an audience of about 75. These young audience members work in a variety of fields and are dedicated to educating the next generation of Indonesians. A panel discussion and breakout groups were led by inspiring civil society leaders who have started their own successful alternative education organizations. The audience then brainstormed policy suggestions to be sent to the Minister’s office at his request. Launched in 2013 by U.S. President Barack Obama, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) consists of bright young leaders aged 18-35 years from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. These young leaders have innovative ideas for tackling what they have identified as their generation’s greatest challenges in the ASEAN region: economic development, environmental protection, education, and civic engagement. The United States is partnering with these extraordinary young men and women by providing training and funding to up-and-coming community leaders and social entrepreneurs.
