October 20, 2017
The Philippine contingent to the 44th Ship for Southeast Asian and
Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP) embarks on a life changing journey as they
attend the opening ceremonies for one of longest youth exchange programs in
Tokyo, Japan.
Thirty seven young leaders representing a cross section of the Filipino
youth from the Philippines' different regions together with their National
Leader leave by air en route to Tokyo, Japan for the first leg of the program.
The SSEAYP is a cultural exchange program that seeks to promote
friendship and cultural understanding. It brings together other participating
youths from the ASEAN Member States (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's
Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam) and Japan who embark on a 52 day voyage to the appointed countries on board
the Japanese luxury liner MS Nippon Maru.
While on board, the participating youths engage in activities like
discussions on thematic issues, National Day presentations, and club and sports
activities. During ports of call, the participants attend courtesy calls to the
heads of state, formal ceremonies, institutional visits, interaction with local
youth, and homestay with local host families. After the program, each
contingent will come up with an Action Plan that they need to implement within
a specific time frame.
The SSEAYP started in 1974 by virtue of a Memorandum of Understanding
between the government of Japan (major sponsor) and the governments of
Southeast Asian countries. In the Philippines, the National Youth Commission
facilitates the call for applications, selection of participants, pre-departure
training, country program activities and post program evaluation. The SSEAYP is
one of the youth exchange programs identified under Global Mobility, one of the
centers of participation of the Philippine Youth Development Plan.(posted by: Becky D. de Asis)
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