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US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius (C) with students at the YSEALI event which opens in Hanoi on August 1. The "Young Southeast
Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Generation: E-Community!” workshop, hosted
by the US Mission in Vietnam in collaboration with Kenan Foundation Asia and the
Centre for Sustainable Development Studies (CSDS), aims to give participants
core knowledge about the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and its impact on
trade and development, as well as enhancing the leadership and soft skills of
youth to give them the necessary skills to make a greater impact in their
communities.
Over 2,200 applications
were submitted throughout the region. The participating youth were selected
out of the numerous applications for the prestigious workshop based on their
outstanding track record and interest in economic engagement at the
community, national, and regional levels.
Over the next four days,
the event will feature expert panel discussions, case study challenges, and
several relevant site visits, targeting to inspire and support the youth’s
ability to contribute to sustainable economic growth in their communities and
in the region.
Speaking at the opening
ceremony, US Ambassador to Vietnam, Ted Osius, stressed the important role of
youth relating to regional development, saying that there are nearly 410
million people under
The diplomat stated that
the US is concerned about the ASEAN’s success and is the No. 1 investor in
most countries in the region. The YSEALI is expected to make breakthroughs
for ASEAN to take sustainable economic steps. The US is actively involved in
ASEAN activities and is committed to create the best condition, especially as
it relates to young people in the region, he added.
Deputy Minister of
Education and Training Nguyen Thi Nghia stated that the event offers an
opportunity to hone skills for young leaders to contribute to the development
of the ASEAN community, saying that youngsters will be the nucleus that
contributes to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the ASEAN
region.
Phan Kieu Anh, Country
Programme Manager of Kenan in Vietnam, said that the YSEALI event would help
young participants to define how they can engage with government, business
leaders, and community organisations to contribute to economic and social
development at the community, national, and ASEAN levels.
At the event, participants
have the chance to visit companies and organisations, such as DesignBold,
Centre for Social Initiative Promotion, Baker McKenzie Oriberry, to learn
about business opportunities during the age of international integration.
They will also experience
Vietnamese culture and traditions and discover ways to promote economic
growth through tourism by visiting Dao Thuc village which is located in the
outskirts of Hanoi, and is famous for its 300-year-old art of water puppetry.
During the workshop,
youth will participate in role-playing activities in which they will be
challenged to view ASEAN economic questions from the perspective of diverse
stakeholders, thus helping them experience the multiple viewpoints that go
into the ASEAN policy development.
The highlight of the
YSEALI Generation event will be the ASEAN Summit simulation, in which
participants will take a role as the Minister of their home country to
jointly develop Statements on sustainable development and other joint
regional policies.
Launched in 2013, the
YSEALI is a US-supported programme to strengthen leadership development and
networking in Southeast Asia. Through a variety of programmes and
engagements, including educational and cultural exchanges, regional exchanges
and seed funding.
The 110,000-member
YSEALI seeks to build leadership capabilities for youth aged 18-
Source: NDO
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