The Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellows Program is a professional development exchange program for the best and brightest community leaders from Southeast Asia who are working in the fields of civic engagement, NGO management, economic empowerment, governance, legislative process, and environmental sustainability. The YSEALI Professional Fellows Program provides participants with a month-long fellowship at a U.S.-based non-profits, government offices, or legislative bodies. Fellows work with community leaders to enhance their practical expertise, leadership skills, and professional contacts to address issues in their home communities.

The program concludes in Washington, DC, to allow for engagement with policymakers and networking among YSEALI Professional Fellows from across the globe. A select group of Americans who worked with the YSEALI Professional Fellows will then travel overseas to further strengthen relationships, continue to collaborate on issue-based projects, and mentor other YSEALI members.

Fill out the application form for the program you are interested in by the deadline. You can access the form at program partner’s websites below – Please only apply to one program; only one application per person will be accepted.

Civic Engagement
An exchange focused on management of civil society-based organizations for young leaders.
Implementing Partner: University of Montana
Participating Countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam
Apply online: http://www.umt.edu/mansfield/internationalprograms/yseali-civic-engagement/default.php
Application Dates: February 1 – March 31, 2020

Economic Empowerment
An exchange focused on economic empowerment for young professional leaders.
Implementing Partner: American Councils
Participating Countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam
Application link:  https://ais.americancouncils.org/pfp
Application Dates: February 1 – March 31, 2020

Governance and Society
An exchange focused on legislative process and governance for young local political and policy leaders.
Implementing Partner: American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL)
Participating Countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam
Application link: https://webportalapp.com/appform/login/acypl_yseali_pfp_application_fall_2020
Application Dates: February 1 – March 31, 2020

Sustainable Development and the Environment
An exchange focused on environmental sustainability for young environmental professionals.
Implementing Partner: International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
Participating Countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam
Application link: https://icma.submittable.com/submit/f8822011-7848-4940-8977-513c27133ca1/fall-2020-yseali-professional-fellows-program-sustainable-development-and-the-e
Application Dates: February 1 – March 31, 2020

More about YSEALI Professional Fellows Program.