THe program
The 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.
Click here to view the AYDP one-pager.
The 2025 AYDP program will run from June 2 - August 1, 2025. For application requirements and deadlines, please click below.
2025 AYDP Applications will open November 8th, 2024
2025 AYDP Program
The ASEAN Diaspora Youth Development Program will run from June 2 to August 1, 2024. This program will be hosted in-person in Washington, DC with in-person or hybrid internship placements.
-
To apply, please fill out the form linked here.
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
Age 18-25 years old
Enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in good academic standing OR recently completed degree
U.S. citizenship or permanent residency OR U.S. F-1 visa
Leadership ability and good interpersonal skills
Record of community service or interest therein
Written and spoken fluency in English
ASEAN descent
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Candidates will submit:
Resume with photo
Statement of Intent and Impact: Why do you want to participate in this program and what impact might it have on your future?
A copy of your most recent transcript
A copy of ID, passport or other official documents as proof of U.S. citizenship, U.S. permanent residency, or U.S. F-1 visa
Statement on what your ASEAN ancestry means to you, from one or more of the following places:
ASEAN countries with the exception of the Philippines and Thailand (Please see USAI’s programs specific to Filipino and Thai diaspora), including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Vietnam
ASEAN candidate/observer states of Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea
Ethnic groups historically located in ASEAN countries, including but not limited to locally unrecognized indigenous groups, stateless populations, etc.
One letter of recommendation from a professor, employer, or community leader
-
January 31, 2025: Deadline for Application. Click the application deadline button above to begin your application process.
On a rolling basis: Candidates selected and contacted for interviews.
February 14, 2025: Acceptance of AYDP 2024 participants.
March - May 2025: The US-Asia Institute will place participants in internships at prominent organizations in DC and pair with mentors.
June 2 - June 6, 2025: Week-long orientation with fellow participants for a series of meetings with successful DC professionals, professional development workshops, international relations experts, etc.
June 9 – August 1, 2025: Internship at host organization.
-
Expenses: Participants are responsible for all expenses related to the program including travel to Washington, D.C. and return home; accommodations; food; ground transportation throughout the program; and cultural and spending money. All participants must, after acceptance into the program, show proof of health insurance.
F1 Visas: Please note that USAI, and any other organization associated with this program will not sponsor F-1 visa status. The F-1 visa holder is responsible for ensuring that all necessary requirements have been met in order to participate in AYDP, including but not limited to securing CPT authorization, OPT authorization, etc. F-1 visa holder applicants will be required to provide the name and contact information of their Designated School Officer (DSO) at the time of application.
Preference will be given to American citizens and permanent residents.
If you’d like to receive email updates about the 2025 AYDP program please fill out the form below.
