From Classroom to Grassroots: Development and Sustainability (DS) Master Student Joins YSEALI Fellowship in the USA
𝐔𝐒𝐀 – Ms. Atitaya Phoemphon, a Master’s student in the Development and Sustainability (DS) program within the Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development at the Asian Institute of Technology, studying under the supervision of Dr. Duanghathai Buranajaroenkij, has recently participated in the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program (under the Civic Engagement theme) in the United States of America. This exchange program brought together emerging young leaders from across Southeast Asia and the US.
This immersive experience directly bridges Ms. Atitaya’s academic foundation in Development and Sustainability (DS) at AIT with practical, real-world execution. By witnessing how grassroots collaboration and evidence-based policymaking operate on the ground in the United States, she can enrich her master’s studies and research with tangible, cross-cultural insights. Ultimately, this exposure transforms classroom theory into actionable expertise, equipping her with the advanced stakeholder-engagement skills and global perspective needed to design and implement truly inclusive, community-driven sustainable development initiatives in her future career.
Ms. Atitaya shared that her journey – which began at The Maureen & Mike Mansfield Center, University of Montana, which then took her to Bellingham City in Washington State and concluded in Washington, D.C. – has enriched her understanding that sustainable development is not driven by policy alone, but by relationships, collaborations, and communities working together across sectors and cultures. The exposure as a Visiting Professional Fellow deeply inspired her as she participated in several discussions to learn more about how evidence-based policymaking, stakeholder engagement and active community dialogues lead to more sustainable and inclusive decision-making processes.
The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP) is a fully-funded exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is supported in its implementation by American Councils for International Education.
