Media Advisory: UND to host Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program

Four fellows will spend a month in Grand Forks as part of State Department exchange promoting cultural, educational ties with Southeast Asia

Who: Delegates representing the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP).

When: April 29 through May 24. A welcome luncheon will be held on Monday, April 29, and a celebration and panel discussing the fellows’ visit will take place on Friday, May 24.

Where: Welcome luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 29 in the Memorial Union’s Gerhardt Family Room (Room 139). The location of the panel at the conclusion of the fellows’ stay is to be determined.

Background: The YSEALI PFP is a U.S. Department of State exchange program offering young leaders from the nations of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam, the opportunity to engage in both public and private sector work focused on civic engagement, economic empowerment, governance and society, sustainable development and the environment. According to the State Department’s website on the program, it is the “U.S. government’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in Southeast Asia.”

UND will be hosting four YSEALI PFP fellows from April 29 through May 24, representing the nations of Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Each fellow will be assigned a host, with whom they will collaborate on projects during their stay in Grand Forks.

The four fellows are listed below:

** Visiting Fellow: Kev Channa, Learning Center Program Manager | PEPY Empowering Youth, Siem Reap, Cambodia  

Fellowship Host: Manuela Gabriel, UND International Center Director

Fellow’s Bio/Interest: Channa serves as the Learning Center Program Manager for PEPY Empowering Youth, a local nonprofit where he is a mentor and trains on wellbeing and capacity-building among his colleagues. Channa is instrumental in the development of curriculum, syllabi, and the implementation of effective monitoring and evaluation strategies. He plays a key role in hosting international exchange programs and manages relationships with both government officials and educational leaders. Currently pursuing a Master of Educational Administration and Leadership degree at Pannasastra University of Cambodia, Channa demonstrates a commitment to advancing his expertise in the educational domain.

His dedication extends to voluntary leadership roles, having served as the PEPY Alumni Association President and contributed to the United Nations Youth Advisory Panels from 2017 to 2019. In 2021, he took on the role of a fundraising ambassador for PEPY Empowering Youth, exceeding expectations by raising 15% over the target. A volunteer with the Cambodia Ireland Changemaker Network Committee, Channa actively contributes to initiatives aimed at improving the education system in Cambodia. In his free time, he enjoys reading, counseling and soccer.

Through the YSEALI Professional Fellowship Program, Channa would like to build connections with nonprofit leaders and understand how they address Sustainable Development Goals of Quality Education (SDG4) in addition to Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG8). He also hopes to grow his personal and professional skills in areas of leadership and management.

** Visiting Fellow: Siti Suci Larasati, Chief Executive Officer | Aksata Pangan, Medan, Indonesia

Fellowship Host: Joshua Hunter, UND Associate Professor, Education, Health And Behavior Studies

Fellow’s Bio/Interest: Laras is a dedicated practitioner and observer of food loss and waste (FLW) issues, specializing in leadership, management, community development, public health, and sustainable food systems. With a strong commitment to partnership, excellence, and integrity, Laras is an effective motivator and collaborator among diverse community partners and stakeholders. She boasts extensive program experience in community services and empowerment, including her significant involvement (since 2017) in sustainable-environment management through International Voluntary Services (IVS).

As the founder and CEO of Aksata Pangan-Food Bank of Medan, Laras initiated the community-driven Food Truck Sedekah in June 2018, distributing food to those in need in Medan, Indonesia. This initiative has evolved into Aksata Pangan, a Food Bank addressing Food Loss and Waste (FLW) and Food Insecurity issues in Medan, Indonesia.

Through the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program, Laras would like to partner with a food bank on developing strategic, integrative models for food security and sustainability.

** Visiting Fellow: Zezinha “Z” Lumena Do Rego Cornelio, Illustrator Officer | CARE International in Timor-Leste, Dili, Timor-Leste

Fellowship Host: Sheila Morris, Vice President of Advocacy, Community Violence Intervention Center

Fellow’s Bio/Interest: Zezinha “Z” Lumena Do Rego Cornelio is a female artist from Manatuto, who has exhibited her art across Timor-Leste. Her artistic repertoire includes illustration, murals, drawing and singing, reflecting a diverse range of creative expression that shapes her livelihood.

Z has actively participated in various community groups, including the Klan Community, Arte Klandestina and Sanak Naksulin Ran. Notably, she serves as the vocalist of the metal band Lowbatt (Charge or Die). Her artistic journey extends beyond her nation’s borders, as evident through her attendance at the Asiatopa Festival in Melbourne, Australia. In her career as a visual artist, she is particularly passionate about artistic approaches that empower youth to embrace their creativity and, uniquely, to also prevent violence against women.

Through the YSEALI Professional Fellowship Program, Z would like to partner with an organization that supports youth in artmaking and fostering self-expression. She is also keen to engage with investment experts in order to learn about strategies for attracting foreign nationals to the arts and culture sector in Timor-Leste.

** Visiting Fellow: Ngo Bao Linh, Community Project Coordinator | Dream&Do School for Future Changemakers, Hanoi, Vietnam

Fellowship Host: Laura Link, UND Associate Professor, Teaching and Leadership

Fellow’s Bio/Interest: Ngo Bao Linh is the founder of “The Classroom Circle,” a transformative education initiative. Linh brings a unique perspective in transformative conflict approaches to her work, with six years of experience in promoting ecological literacy and social activism. When it comes to education, Linh sees conflict as an opportunity for transformation, turning schools into diverse, equitable and inclusive spaces for teachers, students and parents alike.

In addition to coordinating community projects, she actively designs and facilitates “Circles” for educators in both formal and non-formal educational settings across Vietnam. Linh’s impact extends globally, as she is an active participant in international networks such as GPPAC, YSEALI, and ASEAN Foundation Youth Volunteers. Driven by a passion for promoting Peace Education in Vietnam, Linh has empowered hundreds of local teachers and educators, inspiring them to become catalysts for positive change within their own classrooms.

Through the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program, Linh would like to gain first-hand experience in community mobilization and grassroots promotion of educational policy advocacy.

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Media Contact at UND: Anna L. Clark, anna.l.clark@UND.edu,701.777.0960

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