We’re excited to announce our spring 2015 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellows! From a pool of over 350 applicants, this group of 14 young emerging leaders will join us in the US for a six-week intensive fellowship program, ending with a conference-style congress event.

Beginning April 25, fellows will join us in Washington, DC for a brief orientation period, and then will travel to another state to participate in four-week intensive fellowships, receiving day-to-day mentoring and guidance from an ACYPL alumnus. Throughout their time in the US, each fellow will work on developing projects in the area of legislative process and governance. Upon their return home, the fellows will work to implement these follow-on initiatives.

Please join us in congratulating them!

Indonesia

Mr. Hans Jong
Reporter, The Jakarta Post
Project: Curb corruption, inefficient bureaucracy, and increase public participation in the political process

Ms. Elisabet Jupesta
Legal Counsel, Technip Indonesia
Project: Establish an energy innovation agency to provide legal consultation, quantitative and qualitative research, and advise the government on the future of energy policy

Mr. Denni Nurdwiansyah
Assistant Director and Head of Programs SAMPAN/Friends of Coastal Communities
Project: Improve policies concerning forest management and prevent deforestation

Ms. Lia Wulandari Sukirman
Program Manager, Research and Advocacy, Perludem Association for Election and Democracy
Project: Advocate for the revision and codification of current electoral law

Malaysia

Mr. Muhammad Afiq Soepirman,
Special Administrative Officer, Office of the Chief Minister of Sarawak
Project: “Generation of Native:” connect young political leaders and government agencies with indigenous populations

The Honorable Bee Yin Yeo
Member, Selangor State Legislative Assembly
Project: Address urban poverty in Selangor

Myanmar

Ms. Hpa La Lum Naw
Co-Coordinator, Civic Education and Youth Myanmar Empowerment Program, Nau Shawng Education Network
Project: Creat a civic education program for refugee camps

Mr. Htoo Kyaw Win   
Editor, Journal of Human Rights and Democracy, Myanmar Knowledge Society
Project: Publish journals regarding contemporary politicsand human rights issues in Myanmar

Philippines

The Honorable Jom Bagulaya        
Member, Tacloban City Council
Project: Assisting internally displaced persons

The Honorable Sheina Onrubia 
Member, Tabaco City Council
Project: Creating an adolescent public health program focused on eradicating teenage pregnancy in Tabaco

Thailand

Mr. Aushim Merchant       
ASEAN Operations Head, MK Aromatics Limited
Project: Set up a network of facilities to address environmental sustainability, energy scarcity and waste minimization.

Ms. Tidarat Yingcharoen      
Program Manager for Thailand, Regional Bangkok Office, International Republican Institute (IRI)
Project: Empowerment of women

Vietnam

Mr. Le Hoang Vu Ngo
Officer for Human Rights Department for Vietnam International Organizations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Project: Create a database detailing the human rights records of countries that partner with Vietnam

Mr. Hoang Van Nguyen
Disaster Management Official, Department of Vietnam Dkye Management, Center for Flood and Storm Control in Central and Highland Region of Vietnam
Project: Conduct an infrastructure assessment of vulnerable structures to assist the elderly and disabled during a natural disaster