Mountain Support

As YSEALI marks 12 years, we close our 2025 story by listening to the voices that continue to shape the community.

These reflections were shared by YSEALI Seeds 2022 alumni during regional learning and mentoring spaces, including the Project Growth and Resilience webinar convened this year for the 2025 Seeds cohort. The session brought together 22 Seeds teams from across all 11 ASEAN countries, creating space for shared learning, honest reflection, and peer support beyond the grant cycle.

We extend our sincere thanks to Hazel Duya (Philippines), Nagorn Promma (Thailand), and Ella Bautista (Philippines) for generously sharing their insights, time, and lived experience. Their voices reflect the heart of YSEALI: leaders who continue to give back, guide others, and strengthen the community they are part of.

Happy 12th anniversary, Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative . Thank you for building a space where leadership continues long after the program ends.

As part of YSEALI’s 12th anniversary, we continue sharing how our journey unfolded after the beginning.

The years after 2022 taught us that growth is not just about doing more. It is about stepping into new roles, carrying responsibility differently, and learning how local work fits into a bigger regional story.

These were the years we learned to show up beyond our community, while staying grounded in it. Where one project slowly became an organization. Where learning turned into mentoring. Where small beginnings started to echo further than we expected.

We are grateful to Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative for creating spaces where young leaders are not only supported to build, but trusted to grow.

More of our journey continues soon.