A STUDENT from Silliman University completed a rigorous academic exchange program hosted by the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Arizona State University.

Kyle Christiann Saga, a fourth year BS Psychology major, participated in an in-person capstone project under the Civic Engagement Program of the Spring 2022 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Academic Fellowship from Feb. 25 to March 22, 2023.

He was one of the 42 young leaders in Southeast Asia selected by the US Embassy in the Philippines to join in the YSEALI Academic Fellowship.

“I am beyond grateful for such an opportunity to not only fly and get a taste of what Civic Engagement is like in the United States but to also share my Civic Engagement journey on a global platform, in which I am proud to say that I was able to gather a big chunk of my experiences as a student leader in Silliman University,” Saga said.

Saga shared that YSEALI academic fellows were given the opportunity to meet and engage with public servants and government officials in the US and learn more about the country’s government system, public policies and legislations.

They also learned about American History, culture, and indigenous groups; engaged with NGOs, civic leaders and their community projects in the United States and enhance and develop their leadership skills.

Launched in 2013, the YSEALI Academic Fellowship is an intensive short-term program that provides young leaders with a deeper understanding of the United States while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills in the fields of civic engagement, environmental issues, social entrepreneurship and economic development.

The five-week program is open for young leaders aged 18 to 25.