The Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union will soon invite applications for the 35 th Ship for South East Asian Youth Programme from students and government and NGO officials, according to a top official.

The programme aims to give young people with knowledge and talent the chance to demonstrate their traditions and culture to their Asean peers on the Asian stage.

The union's General Secretary, Mr Khamphanh Sitthidampha, made the announcement on Thursday at a meeting to evaluate the 34 th programme. He said the Youth Union and its provincial branches would advertise through the media and posters...more >>

The major objective of this programme is to promote friendship and understanding among youths from the Asean countries and Japan , he said.

Mr Khamphanh said the annual event was sponsored by the Japanese government and supported by Asean countries. Candidates should possess a track record of active youth, community or public service and be outstanding youths capable of assuming an ambassadorial role for Laos . They should be between 18 and 30 years old.

“All participants are required to undergo a two-month orientation programme, which includes weekend and two weekday evening training sessions each week. The orientation programme is tentatively scheduled from the middle of July to mid-September,” he said.

Mr Khamphanh said Laos had sent 29 youths to participate in last year's programme, which took place from October 22 to December 12.

He said participants had visited Japan , Singapore , Indonesia , Malaysia , Thailand , Laos and Vietnam to share their cultures and promote friendship.

“Participants are encouraged to raise funds of around 5 million kip or approach their nominating organisations to subsidise their contributions to the contingent fund,” he added.

A student from the Lao-American College , Ms Siriphone Thongbonh, who was one of 29 young people participating in the programme last year, told Vientiane Times that she and her friends ran various activities such as discussion groups on the environment, information, international relations, education, volunteer activities and youth development.

These involved representatives from six other countries during the 52-day programme.

“We learned how to live together, work as a group and how to help each other. This was one of the best experiences I've ever had,” she said.

Ms Siriphone advised anyone considering taking part in the programme to prepare themselves well before applying.

Another participant, Ms Phaipany Choummaly, said she had learned a great deal from the experience. One of the aspects she enjoyed the most was the chance to teach others about Lao culture and traditions.

“This programme enables young people from Laos to play a greater role on the Asian stage,” she said.

Laos became a member of the Ship for South East Asian Youth Programme in 1997 and first sent participants a year later. Since then some 300 young people have benefited from the programme.

By PHAISYTHONG CHANDARA
Vientianetimes

28 Laotian youth leaders and young professionals are chosen across Laos as delegates to the 2007 Ship for SouthEast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP).

The 28 Lao participating youth are part of a 300-member delegation from within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan...more info >>

The SSEAYP, an annual youth diplomatic cultural exchange program sponsored by the Cabinet Office of Japan, administered in the country by the National Youth Commission (NYC), and is participated in by delegations from Japan and the ASEAN countries, aims to “cultivate the spirit of Asian cooperation” through fostering and strengthening camaraderie and mutual understanding between and among the young people of Southeast Asia and Japan by providing 300 of them annually the opportunity to live together for around two months on board luxury sea vessel M/S Nippon Maru and visit the participating countries.

While on board the ship, the participants will have interactions through solid group activities, discussions, exhibits, cultural presentations and other activities. While on country visits, they will undertake various activities such as courtesy call, interaction with local youth, educational visits to relevant institutions, and home stay with local families.

The Lao delegation will join its counterparts from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan in Singapore on October 22 for the inauguration ceremony.

SSEAYP 2007 is scheduled to be held from 22 October to 12 December 2007. During this period, the ship will visit five of the ten ASEAN countries namely Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos (by air) and Japan

Members of the Lao Participating Youths (LPY) to this year’s SSEAYP include Tomm, member of Princess, famous group girl band.

SSEAYP started in January 1974 based on Joint Statements issued between Japan and the five ASEAN countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined in 1985. Vietnam participated in the programme in 1996 while Laos and Myanmar participated in 1998. Cambodia joined the programme in 2000.

MORE PHOTOS OF LAO Participating youth this year at: http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=98894&p=3&topicID=13413226

http://samakomlao.blogspot.com

If you are aged between 18-30,
If you are interested in raising cultural awareness
If you are interested in promoting international understanding
If you are interested in promoting Laos to ASEAN countries and Japan

Here is your chance ...

The 34th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP)2007

SSEAYP is an annual program sponsored by the Cabinet Office of Japan and participated by delegations from Japan and the ASEAN, seeks to promote and strengthen friendship and mutual understanding among the young people of the participating ASEAN countries and Japan by providing them the opportunity to live together on board the luxury vessel M/S Nippon Maru, visit the participating countries, and engage in various activities such as institutional visits and goodwill exchanges with local youth. The tentative ports of call this year will start from Japan, and then sail to Singapore, Indoenesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam before heading back to Japan, totally around 2 months.

Participants
1. 18-30 years of age, Lao citizen
2. Able to participate throughout the program
3. Having a command of English adequate to enable participation in the activities both on board and in the countries visited.
4. In good health, both physically and mentally.
5. Adaptable to an orderly group life in accordance with the program schedule
6. Having a good understanding of, and interest in, the countries visited

Payment of Expense:
1. The Government of Japan shall bear the following costs, as well as the costs required for the operation of the ship.

1.1 Airfare for participating youths from their countries to the starting point.
1.2 Airfare for participating youths from the finished point to their countries.
1.3 Meals and beverages served according to the designated schedule on board the ship
1.4 Transportation for study tours , etc. in the designated itinerary in countries visited
1.5 Transportation , admission fees , accommodation and meals required for study tours in the designated itinerary in Japan

Disqualification:
Anyone disqualified as National Leader or participating youth (including those who are unable to continue their participation due to any cause for which the Government of Japan is not responsible) must pay their own expenses for returning home. Japanese government will not respond for medical service in any case except service by doctor on board the ship.

2. Each country respond for:
2.1 Selection and training
2.2 Welcome all participant youths in country program
2.3 Airport tax
2.4 Accident insurance

3. Participating youth respond for:
3.1 Medical inspections for health
3.2 any suitable expense

For more info of how to apply, contact
Lao Youth Union
ສຳນັກງານ ( ສູນກາງ ຊປປລາວ )
ບ້ານ ໂພນທັນເໜືອ ເມືອງໄຊເສດຖາ ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ
ໂທ:( 856-21)-417108-416, ແຟັກ: ( 856-21 )-416727
E-mail: info@laoyouth.org.la
http://www.saonoumlao.org.la/