Program Area: People-to-People Exchanges

On-Demand Youth Leadership Program (ODYLP)

Previous Programs Include:

  • ODYLP with Burma (2012)*
  • Youth Leadership Peace Program (2012)*
  • ODYLP with Libya, Egypt and Tunisia (2012)*
  • The Christopher Stevens Youth Network Leadership Exchange (2013)*
  • Youth Ambassadors Program with Ecuador and Colombia (2013)
  • ODYLP with Sicily (2014)
  • ODYLP with China (2014)*
  • ODYLP with Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador (2014)*
  • ODYLP with New Zealand & Australia (2014)*
  • ODYLP with Azerbaijan (2015)
  • ODYLP with Russia (2015)
  • ODYLP with Algeria (2015)*
  • ODYLP with Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova (2016)*
  • ODYLP for Our Ocean with China, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand (2016)*
  • ODYLP with Italy (2016)
  • ODYLP with Mongolia (2016)
  • ODYLP with Indonesia (2017)
  • ODYLP with Azerbaijan and Georgia (2017)
  • ODYLP with the Baltics (2018)
  • ODYLP with Italy, Slovenia, and Spain (August 2018)
*asterisk denotes World Learning-implemented projectsApply to be a Youth Leader or Host Family!

The On-Demand Youth Leadership Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by World Learning.

Professional Fellows for Governance and Society, South and Central Asia

The program includes the following components:

  • Participant selection and pre-departure orientation in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Nepal;
  • A one-month U.S. experiential program for participants from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal that includes fellowships, interactive seminars, site visits, synthesis discussions, and designing follow-on projects (multiple cohorts)
  • In-country seminars and support of follow-on activities for participants from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, including workshops and consultations by American experts (multiple cohorts)
  • The U.S. program begins with an orientation in Washington, DC that focuses on the structure of the U.S. government, the legislative process, and the role of civil society. Following is a four-week fellowship in several U.S. cities, which includes professional fellowships, seminars, homestays, and civic engagement. Participants then return to Washington, DC for the concluding Professional Fellows’ Congress, which includes workshops, meetings with US government officials, and a program debrief.

Fall 2017 Professional Fellows Video Project

https://www.facebook.com/eshasinghalagh/videos/10155150026347916/

Spring 2017 Professional Fellows Video Project

The Professional Fellows for Governance and Society program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by World Learning.

Youth Ambassadors Program

In-Person Youth Ambassadors Programs:

Three-week, Youth Ambassadors programs commence in various locations across the United States, including San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; or in Brattleboro, VT. Participants then travel in smaller cohorts to host communities across the country. All inbound programs include a segment in Washington, DC.

The U.S. Youth Ambassadors exchanges follow a similar program cycle, beginning with a U.S.-based pre-departure orientation, followed by international travel to the exchange country. Three-week, single, and multi-country exchanges take place between June – August; exact dates will vary by exchange country.

The Adult Mentor Role:

The Adult Mentor, or Adult Educator, role is an important part of the Youth Ambassadors Program. These adult program participants support the development of group cohesion and community among program participants; assist youth participants in cultural exploration; engage youth participants in learning and help connect their experiences to their Community-Based Service Initiatives; and continue mentorship development following the virtual or in-person exchange by supporting youth participant project implementation. Youth Ambassadors Adult Educators will:

  • Facilitate participants’ progress on program activities. This may include supporting Youth Ambassadors Program staff with check-ins on individual participants’ progress; and providing insights, guidance, and encouragement on participants’ assignments and discussions.
  • Build the capacity of participants. A key role of the adult educators is to build the capacity of youth participants by enabling them to solve issues or problems as they arise. Youth Ambassadors Program staff do not expect adult educators to solve problems, but rather to empower students to solve their issues/problems themselves.
  • Serve as a resource. Adult Educators will serve as a resource for the student teams by sharing their technical expertise, organizational experience, professional networks, and life experience. In other words, if youth participants have questions and are in need of resources to get to the next level, adult educators should point them in the right direction, based on their experience and connections. Following the program, Adult Educators will support youth participants as they implement their community projects. Adult Educators will be available for questions and guidance as participants need.
  • Act as a cultural bridge. Adult Educators serve as a “cultural bridge” if youth participants have difficulty understanding each other or any part of the program.

Connect with Youth Ambassadors

Contact Us

Questions? Contact our Admissions Office at [email protected] or at 1-877-591-9626 inside the U.S. or at 1-802-258-3485 outside the U.S.

Youth Ambassadors is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government. The program is administered by World Learning in partnership with Amigos de las Américas and Georgetown University CIED.

2022 YSEALI Regional Workshop: Marine Warriors

Event Overview

The 2022 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Regional Workshop: Marine Warriors brings together 100 participants from ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste to Nha Trang, Vietnam from December 1-6, 2022. This hand-on workshop will involve participants engaging in interactive skill-building training sessions, expert presentations and case studies, a site visit to learn about efforts to protect Vietnam’s fragile coastal environments and environmental issues firsthand, and a game jam. The game jam is an exciting hackathon-style component, joining together environmentalists and game developers across the ASEAN region and Timor-Leste to innovate and develop solutions for marine environmental degradation via game production. 

Participant Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be between the ages of 18 and 25 at the time of application;
  • Be a citizen and a resident of one of the following countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, or Vietnam;
  • Be a YSEALI member. You may either be an existing YSEALI member, or you can become a member at https://asean.usmission.gov/yseali/;
  • Be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English;
  • Demonstrate strong leadership qualities and potential in your university, place of work, and/or community;
  • Demonstrate interest, knowledge, or professional experience in environmental sustainability and sustainable development;
  • Be willing to actively participate in an intensive program in Vietnam and follow-on projects in your home-country; and
  • Have a commitment to apply leadership skills and know-how to benefit your community, country, or the ASEAN region.

The workshop will include a component of gaming for social good. While game development skills are not needed for selection, we count on your commitment to participate in the gamification-related segments of our workshop.

Participant Commitment

Prior to the program, participants will be asked to produce a story, using multimedia or digital platforms, about environmental coastal degradation (preferred), or any environmental or civic issues relevant to their home countries. Participants will attend the Workshop and present their stories. Additionally, participants will join several virtual training sessions prior to the program in December and are expected to join post-program engagement activities including actively supporting influencer hubs in their home countries focusing on using gaming in support of environmental protection.