Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association

Leaders of Tomorrow – YSEALI Empowers ASEAN Youths to Make Positive Contributions to Society

YSEALI alumni attend the annual summit in Phnom Penh on January 10, 2025. (CamboJA/Pring Samrang)
YSEALI alumni attend the annual summit in Phnom Penh on January 10, 2025. (CamboJA/Pring Samrang)

The U.S Embassy in Phnom Penh hosted the annual Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative’s (YSEALI) Southeast Asia Changemakers Summit themed Empowering Alumni for Impact where 175 youths from ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste convened in Cambodia to exchange ideas, learn about models for community participation, build capacity and collaborate on local and regional civic work.

The summit also provides experiential learning opportunities through site visits to the U.S. Embassy, Cambodian government offices, and civic and social enterprises throughout Phnom Penh.

Heng Bodalin, a YSEALI alumnus in 2023 from Poland State University and a Co-founder of Breakthrough project, created a platform to raise concerns and challenge social norms in Cambodia. She told CamboJA News that the YSEALI program opened her eyes to learn how to make an action plan for her own project development.  

Bodalin said the theme that she applied for in 2023 focused on civic engagement, so she learned how to strengthen civic engagement, build capacity and gained experience to lead her own project effectively and have more collective partners. 

“This program is good and very inclusive and I met people from diverse backgrounds in the region,” she added.

She suggested that YSEALI provide a budget for the alumni to run their project because it would benefit young leaders with ambitious projects for their community but did not have the budget to run it. 

“I think YSEALI should provide more funds to support the alumni to reconnect or run their project in their home countries,” Bodalin said.

Another alumnus, Anna Xavier from Timor-Leste, said being part of YSEALI was life changing as she met many inspiring leaders from Southeast Asia which benefited her.

“I learned a lot from them. As I have always been passionate about promoting the lives of women in the community, YSEALI helped me meet different networks and link up with experts,” Anna said.

Quiel Andrew, a YSEALI alumnus from the Philippines, shared that the program gave him the space to collaborate with other young Southeast Asian candidates, while letting him know that he was not alone in the young leader’s journey.

“As a young leader it is so difficult as we don’t have a lot of resources, network or connection in my country. Now we have a connection and are grateful that we are able to collaborate with them on several projects in the last two years,” said Andrew.

YSEALI alumni attend the annual summit in Phnom Penh on January 10, 2025. (CamboJA/Pring Samrang)

Bridgette L. Walker, U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh’s Deputy Chief of Mission, said since the launch of YSEALI 12 years ago, the initiative has empowered young leaders to drive positive change in their communities.

“Alumni of our US government exchange programs have gone on to leadership positions at the highest levels of government, business, private sector, and have been on the forefront of civic engagement in health, environment, education, corporate sector and so many more,” Walker said. 

The summit’s theme embodies the essence of being an active and responsible citizen, encompassing grassroots organizing, community building, enhancing media literacy, and fostering open communication.

Speaking to the participants, she said in Southeast Asia, more than 65% of the population is under the age of 35, which means that the trajectory of the future “lies in your hands”.

Heang Sotheareak, an alumnus of the YSEALI Academic Fellowship Spring 2023 from Siem Reap, was inspired by seniors who had joined YSEALI since high school. He shared that after returning from the U.S., he gained a lot of new ideas and knowledge. Motivated by this experience, he started collaborating with other YSEALI alumni and initiated a project called “Bridge to Abroad.”

“So, Bridge to Abroad aims to help students in Siem Reap who have limited access to information about scholarships, unlike those in the city. We want to ensure they are well-informed and prepared if they wish to study abroad or join any exchange programs,” he said.

This year’s cohort consists of six people, and they received funding to support their English studies, passport applications, and IELTS tests, Sotheareak said. Additionally, the cohort participates in sessions where they can listen to speakers who are alumni of programs such as the Australia Awards and Fulbright.

Om Romny, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, highlighted the importance of the event, while thanking the U.S government for their “unwavering support and empowering youths in Cambodia through the scholarship and the capacity building”.

The YSEALI program holds the key to a more prosperous future in the region, he said, pointing out that there were over 365 Cambodian youths invested in the program and more than 125 alumni across ASEAN and Timor Leste. He said YSEALI continued to inspire young leaders to contribute to the development of the community.

Romny remarked that youths had gained skills through civic engagement, exchange programs and community networking that empower them to take on leadership roles and become active models in the community. 

“This is your dedication to strengthening our young people, especially knowledge. The partnership has also played a vital role in shaping the future of our nation by providing youths with necessary tools and experience to drive development in their home countries,” said Romny.

Launched in 2013, YSEALI is the U.S. government’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in Southeast Asia, having grown to 155,000 regional members. YSEALI aims to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region and promotes cross-border cooperation to solve regional and global challenges.

Through U.S. educational and cultural exchanges and fellowships, regional exchanges, summits, workshops, and seed funding, YSEALI empowers youth leaders, strengthens ties between the people of the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurtures development within the ASEAN community.

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