Two YSU students, Janu Muhammad (Department Geography Education 2011) and Rita Suryani (Department of Mathematics Education 2012) along with seven students from other universities were invited to meet Deborah C. Lynn, the cultural attaché of Embassy of the United States of America on Sunday (06/4/2015) in Bogey’s Teras, Hyatt Hotel in a morning tea discussion on social projects with Indonesian young leaders.
The two YSU students were invited due to their contribution to the community. Janu is the founder of “1000 books for Jute Sand Bag Library (Gerakan Mari Berbagi 1000 buku untuk Omah Baca Karung Goni), whereas Rita and her friends in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences empowered organic farmers in Bantul.

They also discussed the elephant and shark conservation campaign, women empowerment, handycraft preservation in Bantul, Gajah Wong river conservation etc. Deborah appreciated these young leaders’ program and provided feedback on how to develop sustainable programs.

The Embassy of the United States of America supports the program with four focuses, i.e. education, environment, civic engagement and entrepreneurship which are related to its leading program, namely Young South East Asia Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). It provides 17 grants with 10.000 USD for each grant. Deborah said that it is a good chance for the embassy to collaborate with the young leaders in social and community service fields.

In the end of the meeting, the students were asked to send their proposals to build follow-up cooperation on their social programs. (Janu)