The Young South Asian Leaders Initiative (YSALI), funded by the U.S. Department of State, aims to create a robust network of connected and empowered young leaders from seven South Asian countries to collaboratively address common challenges.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) in partnership with the East-West Center (EWC) is implementing regional and U.S.-based YSALI workshops to create these new networks. By focusing on three key themes - entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and environmental resilience - YSALI seeks to promote collaborative leadership among South Asian youth leaders from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives, to address regional challenges collectively.
With more than 420 million youth, ages 18 to 30, in South Asia, YSALI aims to:
- Establish new networks of young leaders across South Asia
- Empower these leaders to address shared challenges together
- Connect these young leaders with their counterparts across the greater region
Launched in September 2024 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, YSALI will host five workshops in South Asia and one in the United States, focused on civic engagement, environmental resilience, and social entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. The workshops vary in themes, locations, dates, and timeframes, but all will have virtual and in-person components.
Through YSALI, youth will engage in leadership development, networking, and collaboration to foster solutions for the region's shared challenges. The initiative also promotes regional people-to-people ties and enhances U.S.-South Asia relations by supporting emerging leaders. This is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government, administered by the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) and East-West Center (EWC).
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Sher Jan Ahmadzai | Principal Director |
| Dr. Sofia Jawed-Wessel | Academic Director |
| Julie Jimenez | Grant Technical Support |
| Soraya Rahmanzai | Administrative Coordinator |
| Charity Stahl | Academic Content Coordinator |
Your primary contact for any of your needs is YSALI Administrative Coordinator, Soraya Rahmanzai. She can be reached via email at ysaliuno@unomaha.edu, and will be sure to get back to you promptly.
Answers to popular questions will be posted on the frequently asked questions (FAQ) page.
We look forward to meeting you!