Understanding Eligibility Criteria for YSEALI Seeds for the Future 2025

Before applying, it’s essential to ensure that you and your team meet all the eligibility criteria. Below is a comprehensive guide to help you determine your eligibility for the YSEALI Seeds for the Future 2025 program.

Who Can Apply?

To ensure that the YSEALI Seeds for the Future program supports the most qualified and committed young leaders, the following eligibility criteria must be met:

Citizenship

Eligible Countries: Essential team members (Project Leader, Project Coordinator, Financial Manager) must be citizens of one of the following ASEAN countries:

  • Brunei
  • Cambodia
  • Indonesia
  • Laos
  • Malaysia
  • Myanmar
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
  • Timor-Leste

We welcome teams that are composed of members from different eligible countries. This encourages regional collaboration and diverse perspectives.

Age Requirements

  • All core team members must be between 18 and 35 years old during the program period (February to November 2025). Individuals who turn 18 or 36 during the program period are still eligible.
  • Additional team members over 35 can participate in supportive roles but cannot occupy essential positions.

Membership

YSEALI Membership
Essential team members (Project Leader, Secretary, Treasurer) must be YSEALI members.

How can I become a YSEALI member?
To become a YSEALI Member, please register here. All you will be asked to is to fill in your name, email address & country of citizenship. Membership is free and provides access to various opportunities and updates for young Southeast Asians from the United States Government.

Team Composition

  1. Minimum Team Size
    Teams must have a minimum of three members, filling the following essential roles:
    • Team Leader
    • Finance Manager
    • Project Coordinator
  2. Team Members’ Residency
    • Essential team members must be residing in an ASEAN country or Timor-Leste during the project implementation.
    • Team members must be present in the country where the project activities will take place.
  3. Additional Team Members
    • Teams can include more than three members.
    • Additional members can be of any nationality and age but cannot occupy essential roles.

Project Requirements

Project Alignment

Projects must address at least one of the four core YSEALI themes:

  • Civic Engagement
  • Education
  • Economic Growth
  • Sustainable Development

Focus: Projects should have a clear primary theme, with the possibility of incorporating secondary themes if they support the main objective.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. Projects should align with one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
  2. Applicants will be asked to specify which SDGs their project addresses.

Project Duration

  1. Funding Period: Activities funded by YSEALI must occur between March to November 2025.
  2. Sustainability: Projects should demonstrate sustainability beyond the funding period, ensuring long-term impact.

Important Notes

  1. All Eligibility Criteria Must Be Met:
    • Failure to meet any of the criteria will result in disqualification of the application.
  2. Team Composition:
    • Each project team must include at least three essential team members: Project Leader, Secretary, and Treasurer, all of whom meet the eligibility requirements.
  3. Multi-Country Teams:
    • Allowed and encouraged if it enhances the project’s scope and impact.
    • Essential team members must be from eligible countries, while additional team members can be from any nationality and age serving in supportive roles.

Project Location

  1. Implementation Area
    • Projects must be implemented within one or more of the eligible countries.
    • Teams must demonstrate understanding and connection to the local context.

Commitment

  1. Program Participation
    • Ability to participate fully in the 9-month program from February to November 2025.
    • This includes attending virtual workshops, mentorship sessions, and actively engaging with program activities.
  2. Project Implementation
    • Commitment to implement the proposed project during the specified implementation period.

Ineligibility Factors

  1. Non-Eligible Applicants
    • Individuals who are not citizens of an ASEAN country or Timor-Leste.
    • Individuals under 18 or over 35 years old for essential roles.
    • Teams that do not meet the minimum team size or composition requirements.
    • Projects that do not align with YSEALI’s core themes.
  2. Political Activities
    • Projects that involve partisan political activities are not eligible for funding.

Important Notes

  1. Compliance with All Criteria
    • Failure to meet any of the eligibility criteria will result in disqualification.
  2. Documentation
    • Be prepared to provide proof of citizenship, age, and YSEALI membership upon request.
  3. Ethical Conduct
    • All applicants must adhere to ethical standards and demonstrate integrity throughout the application process.

Summary

Meeting the eligibility criteria is fundamental to a successful application. Ensure that all requirements regarding citizenship, age, membership, project relevance, and duration are thoroughly reviewed and met before submitting your proposal.

For further details, please refer to the following articles: