Bootcamp held for SEA content creators on tech and brand development

The US Embassy in the Philippines gathered young digital creators across Southeast Asia from May 28 to June 1 to connect with their peers and learn about artificial intelligence, digital safety, brand development, and intellectual property protection.

Sixty content creators with a combined following of 15 million on all platforms participated in the YSEALI Creators Co-Lab: Bootcamp for Digital Creators. Filipinos accounted for ten of the participants.

During the closing ceremony on Saturday in Pasay City, the participants showcased their cultures. 

“We learned about brand development, content ideation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and how to maximize all those things to be a sustainable creator. So, I think that's really insightful, at least for me, and I think for the other participants,” said Indonesian content creator Sherly Rahmi.

“I learned that when I put on my camera, I could just shoot right away and upload right away. I create English tutorial videos, but I teach it in Taglish. So, I could help those people who were not able to afford school when they were young… This YSEALI Collab Creators Bootcamp empowered me to be more bold and be more open and give my opinion honestly,” added Filipino content creator Charlene Joy Co-Ellazo.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson recognized social media’s role in diplomacy.

“In an increasingly online world, social media is a diplomatic requirement, enabling us to engage audiences directly, to highlight our efforts to make the United States and our diplomatic partners safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” said Carlson in her speech.

“Content creators, all of you, help amplify messages to reach greater audiences…More and more people of all ages are turning to social media for information, which means you have an incredibly powerful platform to inform, educate, and influence people from your home countries and around the world,” she added.

YSEALI is the US government’s program to strengthen leadership development and networking among Southeast Asians under the age of 35.

Established in 2013, YSEALI has been enhancing the capacity of Southeast Asian youth to advance civic engagement, environmental and natural resource management, education, economic development, and good governance through initiatives such as US educational and cultural exchanges, regional exchanges, and seed funding.

All participants will become members of the YSEALI alumni network. —VBL, GMA Integrated News