#YSEALIAFP

[youngsoutheastasianleaders]

#YSEALIAFP Highlight: Zai Sam, Myanmar

“Hi, young leaders! I am Zai Sam from Myanmar, a Spring 2022 YSEALI Academic Fellow on Civic Engagement at Arizona State University. I just completed my fellowship from February to March this year. Due to the pandemic, our cohort had to adjourn for almost a year. Thankfully the respective YSEALI Academic Fellows program coordinator arranged the five-week-long virtual sessions to connect and learn with other fellows before our experiential visit.

Among three #YSEALIAFP themes, I selected Civic Engagement to strengthen my public engagement and problem-solving skills and also to explore diverse cultures. The biggest takeaways from the program was learning about how to tackle day-to-day gender-based violence scenarios, domestic violence cases, problems with young aged drug users, displacement and human rights. As anticipated, I got to visit significant institutions, namely the Inter-Tribal Council and the Arizona State Capitol. I volunteered at the Society of St. Vincent De Paul and met with well-known people in the government and educational sectors and others.

Getting knowledge, hearing people’s experiences and hearing ‘never give up on your dreams.’ This was the driving force that kept motivating me to keep making positive impacts in my community regardless of my education, career, gender, and social and environmental barriers.

Even before departing to the U.S., the YSEALI Team offered me a grant to address pressing issues relating to youths. YSEALI Academic Fellows was not just solely focused on fostering skills but truly encouraged and built me to be a better version of myself after the program.

Finally, dear future leaders, challenge yourself to grasp this massive opportunity if you are between 18 and 25 years old.

Thank you so much to the #YSEALIAFP Civic Engagement coordinators, professors and students’ ambassadors from Arizona State University.” 

Zai Sam, Myanmar 🇲🇲 Spring 2022 YSEALI Academic Fellows on Civic Engagement

[youngsoutheastasianleaders]

YSEALI Alumni Story: YOEUM Yet - Cambodia

“Being born and raised in a patriarchal society, as a male, certainly makes me privileged. Yet, am I content? NO. Seeing discrimination, inequality and gender disparities in the community is truly a heartbreaking experience. 

This is why I started volunteering in social projects to build peaceful civic spaces and advocate for gender equality. Notably, I co-founded Bridge The GAP/Cambodia, an innovative STEAM and gender-inclusive social program for young girls to unleash their potential. With the 2021 YSEALI Summit’s support, #BTGRegional reached many girls in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and the Philippines. 

I am passionate about ensuring every gender, identity and intersectionality has equal rights and a fair well-being. Following this passion, I came across the #YSEALIAFP on Civic Engagement, which I believed could sharpen my advocacy skills and amplify the community's voice.

This program gave me a unique opportunity to learn from the University of Nebraska Omaha and Arizona State University and I’m grateful to see the snow for the first time in my life and meet the team in person. With the YSEALI family, I was immersed in an inclusive, diverse and supportive environment, allowing me to enhance my leadership, professional, and intercultural competence through planning and hosting activities, such as IWD 2023, cultural night and meeting other inspiring leaders from non-profits to government officials. 

Now back home, with my friends from Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, we will apply these exemplary learnings in our community project called “WE Are Human;” an initiative to break through stereotypes about the LGBTQI+ community. 

YSEALI is open to all young people who’re confident in themselves, their stories and their social actions. So never underestimate your talents! You could be the next leader and you’re #NeverTooYoungToLead.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the U.S. Department of States, US Embassy Phnom Penh, Cambodia  and the YSEALI family for their unwavering love and support to make this journey possible and beautiful.”

YOEUM Yet, Cambodia 🇰🇭 Spring 2022 YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Civic Engagement

Spring 2022 YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Civic Engagement

[youngsoutheastasianleaders]

YSEALI Alumni Story: Amal Kasibah Bahari - Brunei

“Born and raised in a small town in Brunei, I explored life and the world around me through the power of stories. For me, stories open a plethora of possibilities and lenses through which we view the world. As a young girl, one of my dreams was to change the world, or at least the part of the world that I live in. 

In 2015, we received training from the International Organization of Migration (IOMx) on Human Trafficking and Migration advocacy. After that, my co-founder Naj Kifli and I founded the Brunei Youths Against Slavery and Human Trafficking (YAS Brunei). YAS Brunei aims to raise awareness about human trafficking and advocate for safe migration in Brunei by visualizing data and information in stories.

I eventually applied to the #YSEALIAFP in 2019, in hopes of learning and understanding more about the concept of civic engagement and how we can engage our communities more holistically and inclusively. While our fellowship was put on hold due to the pandemic, we finally got to meet each other physically after 2 long years of only seeing and hearing each other through the screen. 

Hosted by Arizona State University, the fellowship was special because of the various things we experienced. One of the most remarkable experiences was finally seeing the Grand Canyon and all its geological features in their glory. Other than that, we also visited the Selah Carefarm, where grief and healing made a home for bereaved people and animals alike. From it, I learned a lot about how to best provide support and resources to people who need them most.And finally, I feel thankful to be a part of this program alongside the YSEALI fellows whose fiery passion to advocate for their country shone as bright as the Arizona skies. The cultures that we’ve shared and exchanged, the friendship we’ve built, and all the knowledge we’ve gained are invaluable. With a new concept of resolution, I can’t wait to come home and continue to strengthen our advocacy journey.“

Amal Kasibah Bahari, Brunei 2020 YSEALI Academic Fellowship on Civic Engagement at Arizona State University