SSEAYP?? WHAT'S THAT?

I'm very sure, most of u never heard about this SSEAYP Program.
Okay.Let me tell u.. a bit info about this SSEAYP Program. ;)

SSYEAP History

The Ship for Southeast Asian Youth program is based on the respective Joint Statements issued in January 1974 between Japan and the Republic of Indonesia , Malaysia , the Republic of Philippines the Republic of Singapore and the Kingdom of Thailand. Negara Brunei Darussalam ,following full independence and its admission to the ASEAN in January 1984 , joined the program in 1985. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam joined in 1996 , following its admission to the ASEAN in July 1995 , and the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Union of Myanmar joined in 1998 after having been admitted to the ASEAN in July 1997. Furthermore , in 2000 , the Kingdom of Cambodia also joined this program following its admission to the ASEAN in April 1999. This program is carried out by the Government of Japan with the active participation and cooperation of these ten Southeast. The main purpose of this program is to promote friendship and mutual understanding among the youth of Japan and Southeast Asian countries ; to broaden their perspective on the world , as well as to strengthen their motivation and ability in international cooperation by participating in discussions , in on-board introductions to each country , and in various exchange activities both on-board and in the countries visited. In addition , the participating youths are expected to progress to leadership positions in youth activities , and in various other sections, in their own country after this program.

The 35^th SSEAYP Ship for Southeast Asian and Japan Youth Program (SSEAYP) will be held from 21^st October to 11^th December 2008.The program’s Malaysian collaborator, the Ministry of Youth and Sport has been very selective in the selection of participants as only Malaysian aged 18-29 representing their organizations were chosen.

The SSEAYP is a 2 month cruise program where the ship will be boarding at each of the participating ASEAN countries and with Japan as an assembly point. The activities being held include conferences, discussions and debates on global and current issues affecting ASEAN countries, visits to educational institutions of the participating countries, participation in charity events organized by hosts country at port of call and promoting Malaysia through various cultural and social exchanges

11 SSEAYP Countries

- Brunei Darussalam

- The King of Cambodia

- The Republic of Indonesia

- The Socialist Republic of Vietnam

- The Lao People’s Democratic Public

- Malaysia

- The Union of Myanmar

- The Republic of the Philippines

- The Republic of Singapore

- The Kingdom of Thailand

- Japan

What's the Objectives?

1. Promote friendship and understanding among youths.

Promote friendship and mutual understanding among youths in Malaysia, Japan and Southeast Asian countries.

2. Strengthen international cooperation.

Broaden perspectives on world issues and events as well as to strengthen participants motivation and abilities towards international cooperation.

3) Increased cross culture understanding

Initiatives such as home stay with foster parents help youths to understand other cultures that are foreign to them. Cross-cultural understanding helps promote a global understanding among ASEAN nations.

4) Promote proactive volunteerism culture among youths

The program serves the manifestations of youths’ proactive efforts to get a ’hand-on experience’ with real human issues and augurs well towards promoting a volunteerism culture among youths.

5) Honor long standing special relationship between Malaysia and Japan

Japan and Malaysia have a shared history and values our common Asian heritage that it is incumbent upon the youngsters of Malaysia to extend our hands of friendship with Japan, that rejuvenate the special relationship between the two countries.

SSEAYP Activities : What we'll do in this program?

Activities on Board of Nippon Maru:

a) Discussion (on youths related problems, suggestion )
b) Exhibition
c) Solidarity group activities
d) Club activities
e) Introduction to each country
f) Lectures
g) Studies for safe voyage , including lifeboat drill
h) Other activities approved by COC (Cruise Operating Committee)

Activities in the Countries Visited:

a) Courtesy calls and Reception
b) Home stay
c) Parties on board , and open ship
d) Program on interaction with local youths
e) Institutional visit
f) Welcoming ceremony and closing ceremony
g) Other activities arranged by the respective governments/ reception committee.

p/s: aku copy& paste aje nih dari mapy'08 blog. kerana aku juga merupakan salah seorang moderator blog tersebut :p