- U.S. Embassy Jakarta held a Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) for 70 Indonesian fellows selected for the prestigious YSEALI Academic & Professional Fellows Programs.
- Fellows to receive 5-6 weeks of training in U.S. institutions, focusing on civic leadership, innovation, governance, and hands-on professional experience.
- YSEALI, launched in 2013, has empowered 2,200+ Southeast Asian leaders and is a cornerstone of U.S.-Indonesia people-to-people ties.
The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta conducted a pre-departure orientation (PDO) on July 28 for future Indonesian leaders chosen to attend the exclusive Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program. Close to 70 fellows from throughout Indonesia will receive educational and professional training with American institutions this fall as part of the YSEALI Academic Fellows Program (AFP) and the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program (PFP).
"People are the heart of the U.S.-Indonesia partnership. The bond between the people of the United States and the people of Indonesia is the solid foundation on which our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership stands", said the U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affaires in Jakarta, Ambassador Peter M. Haymond, during the opening of the PDO. "YSEALI fellows get the best of America whether in an American university or through a public or private sector fellowship – and they bring back to Indonesia with them the ability to lead, inspire, and strengthen communities".
YSEALI AFP provides undergraduate students with the chance to spend five weeks studying at a U.S. college or university to enhance their knowledge in fields such as civic participation, innovation and entrepreneurship, natural resources, and society and governance through academic study, leadership development, and cultural immersion.
Also Read: UAC Joins Jinju City to Boost K-Entrepreneurship Worldwide
YSEALI PFP is meant for mid-level professionals employed in governance, civil society, or economic development. PFP fellows undergo a five- or six-week fellowship with an organization in the United States, obtaining hands-on experience, networks, and best practices exchange.
Practical advice on how to live in the United States, academic and professional expectations, cross-cultural communication, and how to increase the value of their exchange experience was imparted during the PDO.
The YSEALI program, established in 2013, enhances leadership building and networking for the emerging generation of Southeast Asian leaders. Since its inception, the program has empowered a total of over 2,200 young leaders, several of whom are now changemakers in government, business, civil society, and education.
