Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom through its developer arm Globe Labs worked with the US Embassy to introduce President Barack Obama’s Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) to a large group of Filipino youth.
Earlier, the U.S. Embassy
hosted a networking night at A Space in Makati, bringing together young
Filipino students, entrepreneurs, artists and professionals who are changemakers
and active in their communities, to encourage them to join YSEALI and spread
the word.
“Globe
Labs is always honored to be part of various initiatives that harness the
skills, energy, and creativity of youth.
We believe that from these young changemakers, we can expect ideas that
would make the world a better place to live in,”
said Anne Michelle Santos, Developer Community Manager of Globe Labs. Globe Labs actively pursues partnerships with
local and international organizations to encourage innovation.
Charge d’Affaires at the
U.S. Embassy in Manila, Brian L. Goldbeck said, “The United States is proud to support the Young Southeast Asian
Leaders Initiative, because we believe that young people are instrumental in
plotting the course of Southeast Asia’s future. About 65% of people in the
ASEAN region are under the age of 35. Youth are innovative, creative, and eager
to contribute their ideas and energy to improve not only their own lives, but
the lives of others in their communities.”
YSEALI is a signature
program by the White House to strengthen leadership development and networking
in ASEAN, deepen engagement with young leaders on key regional and global
challenges, and strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and
young Southeast Asian leaders. President
Obama announced the launch of YSEALI via video message to 150 youth from across
ASEAN gathered in Manila last December 2013 for the LEAD ASEAN Youth Summit.
What is YSEALI?
Launched in 2013 by U.S.
President Barack Obama, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI)
consists of bright young leaders aged 18-35 years from Brunei, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines, Laos, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
These young leaders have innovative ideas for tackling what they have
identified as their generation’s greatest challenges in the ASEAN region:
economic development, environmental protection, education, and civic
engagement. Every day, they are coming up with creative solutions — like using
beneficial microbes to clean rivers or creating job opportunities by selling
products made from water lilies. The United States is partnering with these
extraordinary young men and women by providing training and funding to
up-and-coming community leaders and social entrepreneurs.
