45th SSEAYP Participants Visit PH

More than 300 participants of the 45th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP) were able to experience the Philippine culture as they embark on their port call here.

The participants visited various institutions in Metro Manila as part of their various activities to foster goodwill, friendship and mutual understanding.

They went to Lyceum of the Philippines, Dangerous Drugs Board, Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippine Information Agency and the Rizal Experimental Station and Pilot School of Cottage Industries (RESPSCI), an institution funded by the Japan International Cooperation Assistance (JICA).

The participants were able to experience the country’s culture by living with Filipino host families.

SSEAYP is a cultural exchange program that aims to foster goodwill and mutual understanding among the youth in the ASEAN and Japan.

It started in 1974 through a Memorandum of Agreement between Japan and the first five ASEAN Member States (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand).

Currently, there are also participants coming from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar,Vietnam and Japan.

Each country selects 28 participating youth (18-30 years of age ) and one national leader (35-55 years of age) who converge in Japan for the initial activities and then board a Japanese luxury liner, MS Nippon Maru to embark on a 52-day goodwill cruise to the appointed ASEAN countries for port of call activities.

Throughout the journey, the participants engage in vibrant discussions on social and youth matters, eye-opening cultural exchanges and engaging sports, recreational and club activities.

At each port-of-call, participants also interact with local youth, pay courtesy calls on dignitaries, visit local institutions, get involved in community service and experience a unique home stay program.

In the Philippines, the National Youth Commission, in cooperation with other partner agencies select the youth participants representing the 17 regions and the national leader.

The NYC leads the implementation of the Philippine Country Program in cooperation with other government and non-government entities including the alumni through the SSEAYP International Philippines. (PIA-NCR/MAPA)