Haji Mohd Zamri, Acting Director of Youth and Sports speaks at the event yesterday.
Some of the participating youths at SSEAYP 2011 yesterday.
Brunei Darussalam will once again participate in the 38th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme (SSEAYP) 2011, scheduled to take place from October 25 to December 16.
Brunei Darussalam will be sending a contingent of 28 youths and one national leader, together with about 330 youths from other Asean countries and Japan. It is an annual programme that started in 1974 and is sponsored by the Japanese Government and supported by Asean member countries. The programme provides participating youths with unique opportunities to interact with others onboard the Fuji Maru and at different ports-of-call for 53 days.
This year is the 25th time Brunei Darussalam is participating in the programme, since the country's first official registration in 1985. It is an international youths exchange programme specially implemented for youths of Asean countries and Japan.
The programme will bring participating youths to visit Japan and five of the 10 Asean countries, namely the Philippines (Manila), Brunei Darussalam (Muara), Indonesia (Jakarta), Malaysia (Port Klang) and Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh).
Yesterday, the Preview National Presentation of SSEAYP 2011 was showcased by participating youths that included cultural performances and an exhibition. The event was held at Dewan DiGadong, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports building. The guest of honour was Acting Director of Youth and Sports, Awg Haji Mohd Zamri bin Dato Paduka Haji Hamdani.
The guest of honour in his speech congratulated the selected participants in representing youths from Brunei Darussalam to participate in this year's programme as "Ambassadors of Goodwill".
He said the role and responsibility of all participants are tough and need to be carefully implemented with a sense of high commitment. He advised participants to respect the culture, beliefs, and at the same time to be tolerant, polite and help each other during the programme.
What is most important, he said, is to always keep the good name and image of the country.
The Acting Director of Youth and Sports also expressed his appreciation to generous donors who have come forward to sponsor the programme. Such contribution shows that the private sector is also giving support and cooperation to the success of the programme.
The aim of SSEAYP is to foster friendship and greater understanding among youths from Asean and Japan. It also seeks to broaden their international outlook and learn the way of life of other participants from other countries onboard the ship besides visiting and learning and being involved directly with local community.
During the voyage, a series of activities will be held onboard the ship that include cultural and exhibition introduction, discussions on social and youth matters, sports, club and group activity and recreation.
Meanwhile, the activity at ports of call includes courtesy calls on dignitaries, home-stay with foster parents, interaction with local youths, institutional trip and visit to places of interest and community service.
At the function yesterday, the guest of honour also received donation in the form of equipment from sponsors, which were handed over to the National Leader 2011, Awg Haji Mohd Noor bin Haji Hamid.
There will also be a fashion show by the participants during the SSEAYP 2011 programme.
Also present at the event yesterday were Acting Deputy Director of Youth and Sports, Awg Haji Rosmadee bin Haji Mohd Daud, government officers, officers from Youth and Sports Department, donors and the participants' parents.
