Young South Asian Leaders Initiative (YSALI) Regional Workshop

Dhaka, Bangladesh – November 3-5, 2025 – The Young South Asian Leaders Initiative (YSALI) successfully held its second regional workshop. The first regional workshop was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka in August. The workshops gather emerging leaders from across South Asia alongside local experts for an inspiring three-day program of training, dialogue, collaboration, and networking. Nearly 90 participants gathered in Dhaka, Bangladesh from the following YSALI countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Alumni from other U.S. Department of State youth programs across Southeast Asia and the Pacific also provided leadership for the event.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Afghanistan and Regional Studies, in collaboration with the East-West Center, hosted the workshop, which is the second of several workshops that will be held in the region. The event was conducted with the dedicated support of a local partner, GEIST International Foundation, a global community dedicated to ensuring excellence in learning, teaching, and leading in transforming ideas. The YSALI program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. Building on the success of other State Department youth initiatives, YSALI enhances the leadership capabilities of youth in South Asia, strengthens ties between the United States and the region, builds lasting networks, and cultivates future partners for American and shared regional interests

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka also partnered with the American Chamber of Bangladesh to bring an American business perspective into the YSALI workshop. The American Chamber proposed speakers well versed in U.S. business concerns and site visits aligned with U.S.-business interests in South Asia.

The workshop featured a diverse set of components, including an expert panel and roundtable discussions, peer leadership and reflection circles, site visits, breakout sessions, innovative micro-discovery workshops, an expo, and a culture night of celebration. Participants described the experience as engaging and collaborative, highlighting leadership and community service. “The most useful part of the YSALI workshop was the emphasis on collaborative leadership and entrepreneurship rooted in community impact. The sessions reminded me of the Samoan proverb, “O le ala i le pule o le tautua,” which teaches that the path to leadership is through service.”

In addition to the in-person regional workshop, participants are enrolled in an online course that includes both pre- and post-workshop programming. Each participant will develop and implement an action plan in their local community in the months following the workshop.

Participant Reflections

Additional reflections on the YSALI workshop in Dhaka:

“...What stands out to me was understanding South Asian and our own country’s resources and learning to have an enterprise mindset. I am excited to apply some skills to think critically and develop ideas for the betterment of our communities.”

“The opportunity to engage with mentors and peers from diverse backgrounds helped me gain new perspectives on sustainable youth empowerment. The practical exercises on project design and implementation directly align with my future goal of leading impactful initiatives that empower young people in my community.”

“The workshop reinforced the importance of leading with humility, empathy, and purpose, and of ensuring that every initiative I take on continues to serve and empower others. It was a reminder that true leadership is not about authority, but about the responsibility to uplift and strengthen our communities.”