HomeBureaus & Offices > Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs...Office of Global Youth Issues

# Office of Global Youth Issues

## 				Our Mission			

					The U.S. Special Envoy for Global Youth serves as principal public representative on youth issues. The office of the Special Envoy leads and coordinates youth-related programming around the administration’s foreign policy priorities and existing regional initiatives, while consistently and meaningfully consulting with young people on the formulation and implementation of relevant policies and programs in an effort to build relationships and uplift the voices of youth making a difference at home and abroad.				

Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues

 Abby Finkenauer

							Follow Us:																			InstagramTwitterFacebook

## Programs

**Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)** The Young African Leaders Initiative, commonly known as YALI, is the United States’ signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders by developing leadership and entrepreneurship skills and connecting participants with their peers and with the American people.   

**Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI)**The U.S. Department of State’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program empowers emerging entrepreneurs from the Western Hemisphere to enable the full economic potential of the region’s citizens. YLAI promotes U.S. business models, increases trade, encourages job creation, and builds lasting and sustainable networks of young entrepreneurs and business and social leaders across Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States. 

**Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI)**The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is the U.S. government’s signature program to provide skills training to youth in Southeast Asia. Through a variety of programs and engagements, YSEALI seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurture a community of leaders who work across borders to solve shared issues.  

**Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) ** The Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) Fellowship Program is a two-way exchange program for emerging entrepreneurs, ages 25-35, from countries across Europe.  YTILI is designed to strengthen the transatlantic relationship, develop sustainable partnerships between U.S. and European entrepreneurs and innovators, promote regional integration and cooperation in Europe, and encourage European businesses, government, and civil society to develop their innovation ecosystems. 

**Young Pacific Leaders (YPL)**The Young Pacific Leaders program is the U.S. government’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in the Pacific. Through a variety of programs and engagements including U.S. educational and cultural exchanges, regional exchanges and seed funding. YPL seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region and strengthen ties between the United States and the Pacific. 

**ECA Youth Programs Division**ECA’s Youth Programs Division empowers diverse future leaders to meet global challenges through international exchange programs that advance foreign policy goals and promote mutual understanding, cross-cultural networks, inclusive leadership development, and civic education.    

Back to Top