Twenty-eight Lao youths will join the 43rd Ship for the Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) in Japan this month to exchange culture with representatives from other friendly ASEAN countries and Japan.
Lao youth will spend 52 days on this programme, which will run from October 25 to December 14.
During the programme, Lao young people will teach other members of the programme about the nation and its traditional culture and customs through various stories and performances.
This year’s SSEAYP participants will visit Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam to share their culture and promote friendship.
Team Leader of the Lao Youth, Mr. Phouvong Manivong, said he was very happy to have an opportunity to attend such a programme. He hoped to inform others about Lao culture and traditions.
Mr. Phouvong advised anyone considering taking part in the programme to prepare themselves well before departing.
“This programme will enable young people from Laos to play a greater role on the Asian stage,” he said.
The Lao youth held a stage performance for government officials and diplomatic corps to Laos on October 1 before leaving for Japan.
It was organised by the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union (LPRYU) and attended by the union’s Deputy General Secretary Mr. Alounxay Sounnalath, Minister of Education and Sports Ms Sengdeuane Lachanthaboun and senior invited guests.
The journey promises participants vibrant discussions on social and youth matters, eye-opening cultural exchanges and engaging participation in sports, recreational and club activities.
At each port of call, participants can look forward to interacting with local youth, paying courtesy calls to dignitaries, visiting local institutions, getting involved in community service, and experiencing unique home stays.
They will learn how to live together, work as a group and how to help each other.
The programme provides the participants with the unique opportunity of living together onboard the Nippon Maru for over 50 days.
The programme also fosters friendship and greater understanding among youth from Japan and ASEAN and also promotes socio-economic cooperation between ASEAN member countries and Japan.
SSEAYP is an annual programme sponsored by the Japanese Government and supported by the member countries of ASEAN. The National Youth Council (NYC), Singapore’s national coordinating body for youth affairs, oversees the programme.
Laos became a member of the Ship for South East Asian Youth Programme in 1997 and first sent participants a year later. Since then hundreds of Lao young people had benefited from the programme, according to the youth union.
Source: Vientiane Times
