Wei Delves into Diversity with other youths in Kuala Lumpur

by Siu Tzyy Wei

From 17 to 22 August 2022, I was given the opportunity to attend a Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Regional Workshop on Diversity, Inclusion and Youth in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This program is fully funded by the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in partnership with Cultural Vistas.

Together with 100 youths, this regional workshop provides young leaders around Southeast Asia a safe platform to critically discuss and debate on the expansive topic of different forms of diversity and inclusion. As such, I was accepted as one out of two Bruneians to represent our country in this workshop.

Prior to the physical workshop in Kuala Lumpur, we were required to attend pre-workshop virtual activities that consisted of short videos and quizzes to equip us with the basic knowledge of diversity. This was then followed up with a weekly session where participants gathered over Zoom to discuss the videos and quizzes and relate it back to our current realities.

Throughout the five days in Kuala Lumpur, we expanded our knowledge on how to include the various forms of diversity, specifically at our workplaces. To this, we were put into separate groups that then conducted a cross-check analysis on the workplace of one of our group members and applied what we have learned from both the virtual sessions and the speakers at the in-person sessions. This resulted in creating an action plan for the workplace to take into consideration when improving their current strategies in practising diversity and inclusion in the workplace. 

As this was my first time participating in a YSEALI workshop, I was pleasantly surprised to be in environments where other young leaders were passionate and determined in solving issues pertaining to the lack of diversity and inclusion in their own communities. It was motivating to spend time with people both online and in-person who consistently strived to challenge themselves and the misconceptions as well as challenges that came with expanding and exploring the idea of diversity in the realms of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, physical and mental abilities.

I am grateful for this opportunity as it aligned with my interests as a Sociology student; back home, I craved to explore the world of racial and ethnic diversity beyond academia, and this was an opportunity for me to learn from other young leaders around the region. 

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Wei Heads to Nebraska for the YSEALI Academic Fellowship Program

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Riyani Heads to Montana for the YSEALI Fellowship Program