Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative: Spring 2016 – Fall 2022
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is the U.S. government’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and
networking in Southeast Asia. Through a variety of programs and engagements, including
U.S. educational and cultural exchanges, regional exchanges, and seed funding, YSEALI
seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties
between the U.S. and Southeast Asia, and nurture an ASEAN community.
Kennesaw State University (KSU) Global Education has hosted over 120 YSEALI Academic fellows, aged 18 to 28 for a two to four-week,
intensive program consists of an academic residency on KSU’s campus examining civil
and human rights through the lens of the U.S. civil rights movement, and a one-week
educational study tour examining present-day international civil and human rights
issues including immigration issues, diversity and inclusion, women’s rights, and
LGBTIQ issues.