On May 22, 2025, a group of 44 young leaders from Indonesia returned home after participating in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Academic Fellows Program. The program brought together over 200 youth from ASEAN countries and Timor Leste for five weeks of leadership training focused on civic engagement, innovation and entrepreneurship, society and government, and natural resources.
YSEALI, launched in 2013 by the U.S. government, aims to enhance leadership skills among Southeast Asian youth through educational exchanges, regional interactions, and seed funding initiatives. The program also seeks to strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia.
In 2025, more than 2,000 Indonesians applied for YSEALI. The selected participants represented 23 Indonesian provinces with diverse academic and professional backgrounds. They were placed at ten universities across the United States including the University of Montana, University of Nevada Reno, University of Connecticut, James Madison University, Northern Arizona University, and University of California Chico. The fellowship included academic seminars and volunteer opportunities as well as study tours to various U.S. locations where they engaged with organizations relevant to their interests.
The fellows concluded their program with a gathering in Washington D.C., marking the end of their fellowship journey. “The true strength of the YSEALI program lies in its varied participants and its interdisciplinary approach to learning,” said Devanka Diaz Ayu Pitaloka from Central Java. She highlighted discussions both within classrooms and beyond as providing new perspectives on civic challenges in Southeast Asia.
Devanka also shared memorable experiences outside the classroom such as visiting the Grand Canyon and volunteering in Flagstaff, Arizona. “Working directly with local communities on social initiatives taught me valuable lessons about grassroots empowerment," she noted.
Mary Trechock from the U.S. Embassy Jakarta emphasized America's commitment to developing future leaders in Indonesia through programs like YSEALI: “At the heart of YSEALI is a simple but powerful idea: that the best way to ensure a safer, stronger, and more prosperous future for all is to invest in the next generation of changemakers.”
Participants also enjoyed cultural exchanges such as sharing s’mores—a classic American treat—with local students during their stay.