On August 4 The Asia Foundation opened the doors to a newoffice in Myanmar, re-establishing our permanent, on-the-ground presence there with Yangon-based Country Representa-tive Dr. Kim N. B. Ninh. The Foundation has a long history ofwork in Myanmar, dating back to the 1950s, and since 2007 wehave donated more than 80,000 books valued at $3.2 million.

The Foundation’s programs initially will focus on strengtheninginstitutions of democratic governance; enhancing the country’sforeign affairs capacities; supporting the management of subna-tional conflict; supporting free, fair, and credible elections; expanding access to information and informed public debate;and assisting with economic reforms for broad-based growthand opportunities for all. During its six decades of work in Asia, The Asia Foundation has played an active role in helpingvirtually every Asian country that has undergone a democratictransition, and is well positioned to make important contribu-tions in Myanmar. Dr. Ninh served previously as the Founda-tion’s country representative in Vietnam, as well as assistantdirector of the Governance, Law, and Civil Society Programsand director of Conflict Management Programs.

In 2010, with generous sup-port from The Estée LauderCompanies, The Asia Founda-tion awarded secondary schoolscholarships to 70 girls in AnGiang province, Vietnam, topursue their educational goals.Through the newly expandedpartnership that will fund anadditional 131 Estée LauderScholars, The Asia Founda-tion will continue to educateand protect at-risk girls in the region, supporting thegrowth and progress ofwomen in Vietnam.

The newly announced gift will enable more than 130 youngwomen between the ages of 12 and 15 from An Giang and CanTho provinces in Vietnam to become Estée Lauder Scholars andreceive three-year scholarships that include tuition, books, learn-ing materials, uniforms, and bicycles for transportation.

Many young women and girls in these provinces quit school at anearly age because their families cannot afford to send them toschool. Carol Yost, senior director of The Asia Foundation’sWomen’s Empowerment Program applauded The Estée LauderCompanies’ growing commitment to improving the lives ofyoung women in Asia: “Together, we are witnessing a vital shift inthese young women’s lives, and their parents are now encouragingand supporting them in their education. These scholarships are

See Estée Lauder Scholarships, continued inside...

ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIESEXPAND SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP TO EDUCATEGIRLS IN VIETNAM

ASIA FOUNDATION RE-OPENSOFFICE IN MYANMAR

BULLETINFALL 2013

NEWS FROM THE ASIA FOUNDATION

powerful in transforming the futureof the scholars for the better.”

The Asia Foundation and The Estée Lauder Companies recognizeeducation as one of the most criticalpathways to empowering women. Access to basic education places life

decisions more firmly into the handsof students, allowing them to makemore informed choices about the livesthey wish to lead. Education providesthe skills, information, and self-confi-dence to become better citizens,workers, and parents, and it is the key to reducing the cycle of poverty.

Silicon Valley entrepre-neur Mr. Chong-MoonLee was honored at alarge gathering of philanthropists, business executives, international develop-ment experts, journal-ists, and individualsinterested in women’sempowerment at thethird annual LotusLeadership Awards Luncheon on June6, 2013 in New York. Mr. Lee, a na-tive of Korea, received a Lotus Lead-ership Award for his contributions tothe health and well-being of womenand girls in Asia. Mr. Lee has longsupported development initiatives inAsia, and recently announced his sup-port for a multi-year, multi-countryinitiative to combat the trafficking ofwomen and girls in Myanmar, Cam-bodia, and Laos.

The Honorable Sapana PradhanMalla, a lawyer, advocate of Nepal’sSupreme Court, and leading women’srights activist, also received a LotusLeadership Award for her contribu-tions to anti-trafficking and the protection of women and girls.Award-winning ABC News veteranLynn Sherr interviewed U.S. Ambas-sador Luis CdeBaca, director of the

U.S. State Department’s Office toMonitor and Combat Trafficking inPersons as part of a panel discussion.

Chevron and The Estée Lauder Companies were premier luncheonsponsors. Vista Equity Partners, CitiPrivate Bank, and Kirkland and Elliswere also generous sponsors. TheLotus Leadership Awards werelaunched, conceived, and organizedby The Asia Foundation’s Lotus Circle Advisors, a community of committed individuals working to-gether to empower girls and womenacross Asia through the Women’s Em-powerment Program. Read about thework of the Young Lotus Circle, a di-verse group of young professionalsworking alongside The Asia Founda-tion’s Lotus Circle Advisors, includingtheir recent Paint Nite gathering inNew York City, on Facebook.

(CONTINUED FROM COVER)

ESTÉE LAUDER SCHOLARSHIPS

The Asia Foundation announced on August 2, 2013, a generous gift from GinaLin Chu to the Foundation’s Women’s Empowerment Program. Ms. Chu is atrustee of The Asia Foundation and afounding member of the Lotus Circle. “Ms. Chu is not only a committed advocatefor the advancement of women and girls,she is also a volunteer of a rare breed: one who truly understands the value of unrestricted support” said Carol Yost, senior director of the Women’s Empower-ment Program. After consulting with her program team, Yost decided to utilize Ms.Chu’s gift to launch a new ‘Gender Smart’Initiative that will seamlessly integrategender into the Foundation’s work through-out Asia, making The Asia Foundation truly‘gender smart.’ Matching support from theLotus Circle will further leverage Ms. Chu’sgift. “In an organization in which the vastmajority of funding is project-restricted, itis a challenge to find resources that allowus to innovate and build our capacity inter-nally.” Yost continued, “We are gratified byMs. Chu’s demonstration of trust in ourability to employ her support where weknow it will have the most impact.”

CHONG-MOON LEE RECEIVES LOTUSLEADERSHIP AWARD WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

ADVOCATE GINA LIN CHU SUPPORTS NEW “GENDERSMART” INITIATIVE

Demand for water for the 700million people living in theworld’s most densely popu-lated river basins—the Indus,Ganges, and Brahmaputra—isrising, and new tensions aresurfacing that threaten SouthAsia’s stability. To addressthese tensions, The AsiaFoundation has expanded its

partnership with the Skoll Global Threats Fund, to strengthen access to information on transboundary issues and foster a regionaldialogue between stakeholders on the critical issue of internationalwater sharing.

The new grant from the Skoll Global Threats Fund will help TheAsia Foundation assess the availability of data and information relating to transboundary rivers in Bangladesh, India and Nepal,

while building the capacity of civil society and the media to utilizetransparency tools and mechanisms to push for greater access todata and information on water and climate issues.

This project builds on a grant made by the Skoll Global ThreatsFund to The Asia Foundation in 2012, under which the Founda-tion conducted a political economy analysis of the Teesta RiverBasin, one of South Asia’s most contested sub-basins straddling the border of India and Bangladesh. In collaboration with its localpartners, The Asia Foundation identified and mapped key actorsand stakeholders in the Teesta Basin, their incentives, relative interests, and their ability to influence water governance decisionsin the basin. Based on field work on either side of the India-Bangladesh border, the analysis identified the drivers of change for reforming state-centered approaches to water governance in the Teesta Basin, and provided recommendations to inform futureactions of the governments of India and Bangladesh, civil societyactors in both countries, and donors.

Since the Luce Scholars program was launched in 1974, The AsiaFoundation has administered—in Asia—the signature program ofthe Henry R. Luce Foundation, a major effort to provide an aware-ness of Asia among future leaders in American society. On Sunday,May 19, 2013, at One UN Plaza in New York City, trustees of TheAsia Foundation and the Luce Foundation, along with Luce Schol-ars from many of the classes, including the very first, gathered tohonor and celebrate this remarkable 40-year partnership.

In his prepared remarks for the evening, Dr. Haydn Williams,President Emeritus of The Asia Foundation, touched upon thelong and warm association between The Asia Foundation and theLuce Foundation, as well as their pioneering, cutting-edge agen-das: “Both foundations were early patrons of higher education inAsia, especially colleges for women,” said Dr. Williams. “Luce wasalso an early important backer of The Asia Foundation’s programsin law and human rights.”

The Luce Scholars program is unique among exchange programsin that it is intended for highly qualified young Americans whomight not otherwise have an opportunity to come to know Asia.The year-long program for up to 18 scholars every year providesstipends, language training, and individualized professional place-ments in Asia. The range of organizations that have hosted Luce

Scholars over the years reflects the extraordinary dynamism andrich diversity of Asia, and is as broad as the scope of talents and interests of the scholars themselves.

This year’s Scholars, the fortieth class, are assigned to public andprivate institutions in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Korea,Laos, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, with placementsincluding the Coral Triangle Center, Buddhism for Social Devel-opment Action, and the Law Reform Commission of Thailand.

SKOLL GLOBAL THREATS FUND CONTINUES SUPPORT FOR CRITICAL RIVER BASIN PROJECT IN SOUTH ASIA

LUCE SCHOLARS PROGRAM MARKS 40 YEARS

BR I E F LY NOTED

NEW LANKACORPS FELLOWSEXPERIENCE SRI LANKA The second class of our unique Lanka-Corps program has embarked on fellow-ships exploring their roots while givingback to Sri Lanka, the country of theirheritage. Seven LankaCorps fellows fromthe U.S., Canada, and Australia werecarefully selected and are currently livingand working for six months in Sri Lanka,placed with host organizations identifiedby The Asia Foundation in the public,private, and nonprofit sectors. The pro-gram fosters identification with Sri Lankaamong members of the young diasporawho have limited experience with thecountry and helps them engage withpost-conflict Sri Lanka.

ASIA DEVELOPMENT FELLOWS:EMERGING LEADERSHIP FORASIA’S FUTURE The Asia Development Fellows: Emerg-ing Leadership for Asia’s Future is a newinitiative currently being launched byThe Asia Foundation to target, nurture,and support dedicated next-generationdevelopment and policy leaders acrossAsia. The program will empower a dynamic, innovative and inspirationalnetwork of emerging leaders, with thegoal of finding shared common purposein the pursuit of creative and lasting solu-tions to the region’s major developmentneeds and challenges. Applications forthe inaugural 10 Fellows will be invitedstarting in November 2013, for the 2014program year.

To receive the Bulletin electronically, sign up at asiafoundation.org.

The Asia Foundation depends on financial contributions from public and private sector donorsto accomplish its work. Your contribution to The Asia Foundation gives us the flexibility to helpwhere most needed and respond to changing conditions as they arise. Working together, wecan contribute to improving lives and expanding opportunities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.To learn more visit asiafoundation.org.

The 2013 LankaCorps Fellows, left to right: KaitlinEmmanuel (USA), Natale Dankotuwage (Canada),Tara de Silva (USA), Harshi Hettige (USA),Chethana Perera (USA), Charles Arullah (Canada).Not pictured: Anthony Obeyesekere (Australia).

In developing countries, one of the impediments to early childhood education is the availability of high-quality, age-appropriate reading material in local languages. Children’s book publishing islimited by the lack of specialized skills among local publishers, authors, and illustrators, and aconsumer base that can afford extracurricular books. To address this gap, The Asia Foundation’sBooks for Asia program and Room to Read are partnering to expand access to compelling and culturally relevant early reading material to children in under-served communities throughout developing Asia. A collection of photos from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka where the projectis slated to begin is at asiafoundation.org/media.

MULT IMED IA ONL INE AT AS IA FOUNDAT ION .ORG

SLIDESHOW: A Storybook Partnership

Two new trustees recently joined theFoundation’s board, The HonorableHoward L. Berman and William H. Neukom.

Mr. Berman served as U.S. Congressman of California’s 28thCongressional District for 30 years,from 1983 to 2013. He served asboth Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign AffairsCommittee and Ranking Member of the Asia Subcommittee of theHouse Foreign Affairs Committee atvarious times. Mr. Berman was a leading voice on immigration and foreign policy in the House, and wasthe force behind some of the mostimportant foreign affairs legislationover the past decade. The Almanac of

American Politics described HowardBerman as “one of the most creativemembers of the House and one of themost clear-sighted operators in Amer-ican politics.” He is now with the lawfirm of Covington & Burling.

Mr. Neukom is the president and chiefexecutive officer of the World JusticeProject. Previously, Mr. Neukomserved as the Chief Executive Officerand managing general partner of theSan Francisco Baseball Associates. For-mer general counsel of Microsoft andpresident of the American Bar Associa-tion, Mr. Neukom has also served onmany organizations, including theDean’s Council at Stanford Law School,and the Board of the Pacific Counselon International Policy.

THE ASIA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCESNEW TRUSTEES

TRUSTEESMichael H. Armacost, Chair

Harry Harding, Vice Chair

Missie Rennie, Vice Chair

Mary Brown Bullock, Secretary

Thomas P. Rohlen, Treasurer

David D. Arnold, President

Terrence B. AdamsonWilliam L. Ball, IIIHoward L. BermanGina Lin ChuKarl EikenberryTheodore L. Eliot, Jr. John FosterJared FrostGeoffrey GarrettHong Seok-HyunKarl F. InderfurthKenneth I. JusterJames Andrew Kelly S. Timothy KochisEllen LaipsonDavid Michael LamptonChien LeeChong-Moon Lee Clare LockhartAdil NajamWilliam H. NeukomDouglas H. PaalSusan J. Pharr Sunder RamaswamyTeresita C. SchafferMasako ShinnFranklin TugwellJudith F. WilburAlice Young

TRUSTEES EMERITI:William S. AndersonAlexander D. Calhoun, Esq.Scott CookThomas S. FoleyErnest M. HowellLee Hong-KooJ. Stapleton RoyLinda Tsao Yang

PRESIDENTS EMERITI:Douglas BereuterWilliam P. FullerHaydn Williams

In 1954, 21 civic minded, and forward-thinking citizens who shared a strong interest inAsia, distinguished personal achievements, and dedicated public service joined toform The Asia Foundation—a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Asian development. Among the original founding officers of the board, there were severalpresidents/chairmen of large companies including T.S. Peterson, CEO of Standard Oilof California (now Chevron), Brayton Wilbur, Sr., president of Wilbur-Ellis Co., and J.D.Zellerbach, chairman of the Crown Zellerbach Corporation; four university presidentsincluding Grayson Kirk from Columbia, J.E. Wallace Sterling of Stanford, and RaymondAllen from UCLA; prominent attorneys including Turner McBaine; Pulitzer Prize winningwriter James Michener; Paul Hoffman, the first administrator of the Marshall Plan inEurope; and several major figures in foreign affairs. As we mark The Asia Foundation’s60th year in 2014 and reflect on the remarkable vision the Foundation’s founders setout so many decades ago, our fundamental values and mission ring as true and criticalas ever—to improve lives, expand opportunities, and help societies flourish across adynamic and developing Asia. Much has changed in Asia and the world since 1954 butthe solid groundwork set by the Foundation’s founders has enabled The Asia Founda-tion to continue to evolve, leading decades of critical development work and impactingcountless people across the region.

60TH ANNIVERSARY HIGHLIGHTTHE ASIA FOUNDATION’S FOUNDING MEMBERS