Call for Applications: 2025 Leadership Residents and ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit
“Harpswell taught me to be confident. I dare to say what I think is right and I’m ready to be a model to other young women who have the courage to fight for their dreams.”
- Harpswell Alumna (Anonymous) in Impact Survey
For nearly two decades, Harpswell has been at the forefront of empowering young women in Cambodia and Southeast Asia. Harpswell remains true to its mission of advancing young women leaders with education, training and a supportive network through engaging programs and initiatives.
Dedicated to building a generation of women who lead with courage, intelligence, and integrity, Harpswell is once again opening its doors to welcome a new cohort of inspiring leaders. These individuals will join a powerful network of over 200 changemakers who are shaping the future of the region.
Harpswell is thrilled to announce that two transformative programs are now open for applications: Leadership Residents and the ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit
Leadership Residents
The Leadership Resident Program brings volunteers who teach, mentor and learn alongside Harpswell’s bright Cambodian young women attending university. The program has two volunteer tracks: Leadership Residents (LR) and the LR Fellowship. Both LRs and LR Fellows live in one of Harpswell’s two dormitory leadership centers alongside students. LRs commit to terms of four to eight months, immersing themselves in a dynamic community of future leaders. LR Fellows commit one year at Harpswell, acting as peer leader for LRs, taking the lead on ensuring the in-country LR Program runs smoothly.
This volunteer opportunity is designed for women passionate about sharing their expertise, broadening their perspectives and engaging meaningfully in cross-cultural exchange. It offers a chance to leave an impact on others while gaining invaluable personal and professional growth.
Leadership Residents are expected to:
Teach Harpswell’s Core Curriculum
Facilitate twice-weekly critical thinking discussions on current events
Tutor students in English language skills
Host consistent office hours
Support student leadership development
Build meaningful relationships with students and alumnae
Plan engaging cultural activities outside of the leadership centers
In addition, LR Fellows are tasked with:
Managing LR scheduling, ensuring all classes and events are sufficiently staffed
Onboarding incoming LRs
Cultivating a strong culture of support and collaboration amongst the LR cohort
Supporting Communications Officer in gathering content
Alongside full room and board plus travel insurance, LRs and LR Fellows receive a monthly stipend reflective of cost-of-living in Phnom Penh:
LR: $330 USD
LR Fellow: $420 USD
Both LRs and LR Fellows are asked to make their own travel arrangements to and from Cambodia.
Applications are welcome from women with university degrees who demonstrate:
A commitment to social change, women’s leadership and education.
A genuine curiosity for the experiences of others and interest in cross-cultural learning and discovery.
Resourcefulness and flexibility, alongside the ability to self-motivate.
Excellent English language skills, both spoken and written (teaching experience a plus).
A willingness to work non-traditional hours (evenings and weekends)
In addition, LR Fellows applicants should also have:
2+ years of professional experience.
Teaching experience strongly preferred.
ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit
The Women’s Leadership Summit brings together a dynamic group of young women aged 25-35 from all ten countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as Nepal. Over the course of 5 months, participants engage in a leadership development and professional networking program, culminating in a week-long gathering in Penang, Malaysia. The summit provides a unique platform for these women to deepen their leadership skills and expand their professional networks.
The 2025 Summit aims to drive positive change in Southeast Asia by fostering a network of women leaders who have a strong understanding of the ASEAN region and who form meaningful, lifelong relationships with their peers across borders.
Organized in collaboration with the Center for Research on Women and Gender at Universiti Sains Malaysia, it offers a rare opportunity to connect, collaborate and build lasting friendships that will empower them for years to come.
Participants will be expected to join a series of activities, spread over five months in a hybrid format:
May 2025 - Virtual Summit Launch
June to August 2025 - Virtual Learning Sessions
September 13-21, 2025 - In-person Gathering in Penang, Malaysia
Applications are welcome from women, aged 25 to 35, from ASEAN countries and Nepal, who demonstrate:
A keen interest in social change and women’s leadership
Leadership potential through academic achievement or professional accomplishment
Willingness to share, explore and grow in self-identity, cultural diversity and worldview
A curiosity about the experiences of others in the region
Strong English language skills
Harpswell’s impact and beyond
Harpswell’s community of young women expands beyond countries and borders, creating a powerful, interconnected community of changemakers. United by a collective vision to create lasting change in Southeast Asia and beyond, Harpswell also brings together previous participants from different cohorts to form a sisterhood that fosters collaboration, mutual support and shared growth.
The Alumnae Network brings together those who have completed any Harspwell program. It creates a unique space where alumnae can reconnect, network and bond over their shared memories and journeys, supporting one another in both personal and professional endeavors. Through this sisterhood, Harpswell’s influence continues to grow, fostering collaboration, empowerment and friendships that transcend geographic boundaries.
Applications are now open
Be part of a movement that is shaping the future of ASEAN, apply to be part of our programs today: