Philippine Youth Leadership Program (PYLP)

Every spring CSEAS brings 28 young people and adult leaders from conflict-torn Mindanao in the Southern Philippines to NIU for the Philippine Youth Leadership Program (PYLP), a month of leadership training and development. The program prepares youth leaders to become responsible citizens and contributing members of their communities by building skills that will empower them to be actively engaged in addressing issues in their schools and communities and by fostering relationships among youth from diverse backgrounds. While at NIU, participants are engaged in community service, field trips, group projects and an American homestay.

This year's PYLP will run from April 12 to May 10, 2024. CSEAS is currently recruiting host families for a two-week homestay from April 21 to May 4, 2024. If interested, contact Homestay Coordinator Celia Chabolla at cchabolla@niu.edu. For more information about the entire program itself, visit the PYLP website or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

PYLP is one of many youth exchange programs, including the Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP), funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. From 2004 to 2018, Anthropology Professor Emerita Susan J. Russell and International Training Office Director Lina Ong led PYLP. In 2019, CSEAS became PYLP' s new home. Tagalog language instructor Rhodalyne Gallo-Crail and CSEAS Director Judy Ledgerwood serve as program directors. The program currently is funded through 2024 in partnership with the University of Science and Technology in Southern Philippines.

Host Families

Graduate SEA Fellows

Undergraduate SEA Fellows

Contact PYLP

Program Director:
Rhodalyne Gallo-Crail
Department of World Languages and Cultures
rgallocrail@niu.edu