Alumni Updates

Vice President Mike Pence Meets YSEALI Leaders in Indonesia

Image
Placeholder image

US Vice President Mike Pence was deeply impressed with the achievements of YSEALI alumni in Indonesia. 

During a recent trip to Indonesia, Vice President Mike Pence met with 23 Indonesian alumni of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) at the US Embassy in Jakarta. The professional exchange initiative seeks to build the leadership capabilities of young professionals across the region, strengthen ties between the US and Southeast Asia, and nurture a community among the people of Southeast Asia.

Dissa Ahdanisa traveled to the US for the first time last year on the YSEALI program to learn more about social impact and the American deaf community. Dissa works with the deaf community in Indonesia through the Fingertalk initiative, a social movement to provide job opportunities for deaf people. So far, her team has opened a cafe and a carwash for deaf employees and has hosted workshops to promote employment of the deaf community. She was invited to share her story with the Vice President:

"Through YSEALI, I was able to meet friends from Southeast Asia and realize that disability employment is a common issue across the region. Now, I am working with friends from different ASEAN countries to create a more inclusive region and world," Dissa told Vice President Pence.

Vice President Pence also shared his view on leadership and what he has learned throughout his career in public service with the YSEALI alumni:

"I was just somebody from a little town in the heart of America, but I had a dream of working in Washington, D.C. one day. So, today I want to share with you what I have learned along the way. When you want to make a change in the world, remember this: Firstly, don't wait to be asked. Do it before someone asks you. Secondly, when you want to make a difference, be different. It is also very important to work from your heart. And lastly, once you've started, hang on. Hang on there, because things will get harder and harder."

Vice President Pence closed the discussion on an optimistic note: "The future looks bright in Southeast Asia thanks to great programs like YSEALI that help prepare future business and civic leaders."

About the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative
The YSEALI Professional Fellows Program is a professional development exchange program funded by the US Department of Sate for the best and brightest community leaders from ASEAN, working in the fields of civic engagement, NGO management, economic empowerment, governance, legislative process, environmental and natural resources management.

The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative is President Obama's signature program 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.

RELATED CONTENT