Deadline: 27-Jun-22
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to develop and implement a Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Regional Workshop on Designing Games that Drive Social Change, to be held in Malaysia (Penang or Kuala Lumpur) pending the availability of funding.
The proposed workshop will focus on introducing existing and aspiring young game developers to the concept of designing games for social change and equipping them with the technical and narrative skill sets to design compelling interactive experiences. The program should also provide participants with nuanced background knowledge on critical social issues facing their communities that could be highlighted through a gaming medium.
Objectives
- YSEALI is the U.S. government’s signature initiative to engage emerging leaders in Southeast Asia. The program aims to create a network of young Southeast Asian leaders who work across national borders to solve common problems. 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.
- YSEALI is open to young leaders ages 18-35 who are both citizens and residents of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) or Timor-Leste.
- Responding to priorities from youth in the ASEAN region, YSEALI programs focus on four themes (Economic Growth, Sustainable Development, Education, and Civic Engagement).
Funding Information
- Length of performance period: 10 to 12 months
- Number of awards anticipated: One
- Award amounts: award may range from a minimum of $150,000 to a maximum of $200,000.
- Subject to availability of funding.
- Total available funding: $200,000
- Type of Funding: FY22 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds
- Anticipated program start date: August 2022
Participants and Audiences
- The recipient will coordinate with U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur and with the U.S. embassies in ASEAN and Timor-Leste to recruit and select 60-70 participants. Participants will be between the ages of 18 and 35 and have experience or demonstrated interest in game design, game development, storytelling, or in forwarding social messaging through games or other creative media.
- All participants must be proficient in written and spoken English. All programs must include participants from all ten ASEAN member countries and Timor-Leste.
- The workshop will be conducted in English.
- The recipient will be responsible for arranging and using cooperative agreement funds to cover all elements related to participant and staff travel including international and domestic flights, visas, travel to and from airports, visas, accommodations, per diem, meals during the program, insurance, etc.
Priority Region: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- U.S. public and private educational institutions
- U.S. not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks
- Foreign public and private educational institutions
- Foreign not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=340752