The Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP)
The Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP) is based on the respective Joint Statement issued in January 1974 between Japan and the Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, and the Kingdom of Thailand.
Brunei Darussalam joined the Program in 1985, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1996.Lao people’s Democratic Republic and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar joined the Program in 1998.Furthermore in 2000, the Kingdom of Cambodia also joined the Program.
The Program is carried out by the Government of Japan (through the Office for International Youth Exchange of the Cabinet Office) with the active participation and cooperation of these ten Southeast Asian countries.
Purpose
The aims of this Program are to promote friendship and mutual understanding among the youths of Japan and the ten Southeast Asian countries, to broaden their perspective of the world, and furthermore, to strengthen their spirit of international cooperation, and practical skills for international collaboration.
As a result, it is expected to cultivate youth who are capable of exercising their leadership skills in various fields in the globalizing society and to contribute to society in areas such as youth development.
These aims can be achieved through sharing their lives onboard the ship, introducing each other about their countries, and participating in discussions and various exchange activities both onboard and in the countries to be visited.
Summary of the 43rd SSEAYP report in 2016
Activities in Japan
An Inauguration Ceremony (gathering all Participating Youth (PY)) and Welcome Reception were organized on October 26.
A 4-day and 3-night Regional Program was organized for all PYs (Oct.27-Oct.30) to experience local culture and homestay.
From October 30 to November 2, Japan-ASEAN Youth Leaders Summit (YLS) was held at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center (NYC) in Tokyo. YLS is an overnight program which is implemented with the goal of achieving greater youth participation in building human networks between Japan and ASEAN member countries, as well as solidifying relationships between Japan and ASEAN member countries. Given the significance of the program, it shall be implemented with the cooperation of the embassies of respective ASEAN member countries in Tokyo and the ASEAN-Japan Centre (the ASEAN Promotion Centre on Trade, Investment and Tourism).
Cruise (Activities onboard and in the Countries Visited) (Nov.3-Dec.15)
Activities onboard
- Discussion Program
The Discussion Program followed a “common theme”, Youth Participation in Social Activities, and under it were eight “group themes”. Each Discussion Group comprised of more or less the same number of PYs from different contingents.
- Post-Program Session
The Post-Program Session intends to deepen PYs’ understanding of the SSEAYP International, its mission, objectives and activities, and to encourage them to actively participate or organize post-program activities.
- Club Activities
Based on common interests and concerns, different activities were organized to teach and learn from each other for the purpose of promoting spontaneous communication among the PYs with the coordination of the Club Activity Sub-Committee
- National Presentation
Activity to introduce the culture, tradition, history, nationality, current situations surrounding youth, etc. of each country
- Voluntary Activities
Activities to be voluntarily planned and organized by the PYs with clear purposes and objectives such as events and seminars
Activities in the Countries Visited
Country programs, or the activities in the countries visited, were organized and conducted by respective governments and Reception Committees (RCs). The RCs generally included members of the Alumni Associations in the respective countries. Ex-PYs played an active part in the implementation of the country program, often accompanying the PYs to various venues.
The duration of the visit to each country （Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia） was 4 days. The country programs included homestay, courtesy calls on high ranking government officials, interaction with local youth and institutional visits to industrial, educational, cultural and social welfare facilities. During the country program in Vietnam, the institutional visits were arranged according to the eight Discussion Group themes.
For the country visit to Cambodia, a delegation comprised of the Administrator, National Leader of Cambodia and all the Youth Leaders (YLs) flew to Phnom Penh for 2 days and paid a courtesy call.