Diaspora Youth Development Program - US-Asia Institute

The inaugural ASEAN Diaspora Youth Development Program (AYDP) is a nine-week professional development program created by the US-Asia Institute (USAI). It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for individuals of the ASEAN diaspora aged 18-25 years old to come to Washington D.C. to gain a firsthand look at the American government and political system and engage civically and reflect on the role they, as future leaders, might play in strengthening American relations with their respective countries.

AYDP introduces the chosen participants to their roles and responsibilities in becoming engaged in their community and beyond. It provides them with the skills and knowledge to participate in and transform into leaders in the democratic and electoral processes as well as civil society through a series of hands-on and interactive workshops, networking opportunities, placement in professional development/internship positions in Washington, D.C, one-on-one mentorship, and the completion of a civic engagement project.

This program provides these young people with the opportunity to intern on a national level in various offices of elected officials, public agencies or in organizations involved in the political/government/policy influencing arena, such as the U.S. Congress, government agencies, or non-governmental organizations. This opportunity helps participants to develop a stronger understanding of how the government and political system work by experiencing it from an insider’s perspective. Further, the program prepares these young leaders to participate in the civic arena, developing skills for those interested in public service and/or in becoming citizens involved in their communities. Not only is this an invaluable professional experience, but also benefits the ASEAN diaspora community by promoting its interests in American politics and civic engagement in the future.

The program also highlights professional development at its core. Each participant is matched with a mentor based on professional and career goals, offering individualized support and guidance to our program participants in helping them navigate their future professional careers and expand their networks. The program also features a variety of group and individual networking opportunities and professional development workshops.

In the United States, participation in the political process and being civically engaged are crucial to ensuring that a community’s needs and concerns are heard and addressed. AYDP is one way to achieve this objective by finding a more effective way to support the ASEAN diaspora community in the U.S.’s new generation to represent their own community politically and civically.

The deadline is January 31, 2024. To apply, click here