On September 25, 2024, Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Lee Satterfield and Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu launched the Young South Asian Leaders Initiative (YSALI).
This initiative aims to unite youth from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to address key issues such as economic opportunity, environmental resilience, and civic participation.
With over 420 million young people in the region, YSALI will offer networking, leadership training, and academic fellowships to support positive change.
The launch, held alongside the UN General Assembly, brought together South Asian officials, private sector and civil society partners, and students, highlighting the U.S. commitment to empowering youth.
YSALI joins other regional youth networks like the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), and the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI).
