The YSEALI Bootcamp 2022 program targets youths (18-35-year-olds) across Malaysia, to establish a network that focuses on rebuilding inclusive societies through technology. The program consists of three phases, covering modules that range from soft skills and social media campaigns to team management, budgeting, and fundraising.

The YSEALI Boot Camp 2022 by the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur, The Young Southeast
Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) and in partnership with Biji-biji Initiative, and Mereka was a ten-month initiative that took place over the course of 2022 to 2023.

This year’s program focused on youths from 4 states in Malaysia (Kedah, Kelantan, Johor, Pahang) with the aim to create awareness in civic engagement and empower aspiring leaders to take their voices from the community stage to national and global platforms. The ten-months initiative aimed to empower a community of young leaders with the skills, expertise, and resources to become effective civic participants in Malaysia along with harnessing passionate participants who are ready to advocate for pressing issues faced by their communities.

The Boot Camp consisted of 4 phases which concentrated on recruitment, engagement, and
mentoring the participants led by a Finale at Mereka in Publika. Phase 1 of the Boot Camp focused on 2 Civic Engagement Webinars to educate youths about Civic Engagement and their role, Phase 2 focused on a 2-day Boot Camp at 4 locations, namely:
Johor – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor
Kedah – American Corner Kedah (Perpustakaan Awam Kedah) & Kedah Digital Library
Kelantan – American Corner Kelantan, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Bachok
Pahang – Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Gambang

Phase 3 focused on a 3-month mentorship program with Biji-biji Initiative and Phase 4 was completed during the Finale which was hosted at Mereka in Publika over a 3-day period.