NYC now accepting applicants for SSEAYP

The National Youth Commission has opened this year’s selection process for the next batch of youth leaders to represent the Philippines in the 34th Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP).

The NYC will choose a National Leader and 28 Participating Youths to comprise the Philippine delegation. The select youth leaders will join their counterparts from 10 Southeast Asian countries and Japan on board the Japanese luxury vessel Nippon Maru for 43 days and engage in activities that would foster stronger diplomatic ties.

And because the Philippines will not be a host country this year, the Philippine delegation will get to visit six other host countries, certain of which is Japan, being the proponent of SSEAYP.

However, unlike in the previous years wherein two delegates, male and female, are chosen from every region, the NYC would only choose one delegate from the 16 regions. The remaining 12 slots for Participating Youths will be filled in by NYC volunteers who will undergo the same screening process as that of the non-NYC volunteers.

Deadline for documentary requirements is at 5 p.m. on April 30. Those who will qualify in the first stage of screening will undergo a regional interview sometime in June. The NYC said it reserves the right and prerogative to exclude applicants who will not meet the minimum requirements. Lack or non-compliance of any of the requirements would also mean automatic disqualification without prior notice.

Interested applicants for Participating Youth must be a (1) Filipino citizen; (2) single; (3) between 18-30 years old as of April 1,2007; (4) of good moral character, (5) residing, working or studying in the region to be represented for at least two years immediately preceding the date of application; (6) physically and mentally fit to travel; (7) preferably a first-time international traveler and or must not have been a grantee/recipient of any NYC funded international travel or Japanese Government grant; (8) has strong background of Philippine history, geography and culture and the arts; (9) knowledgeable of the current issues of the Philippines, Japan and ASEAN countries; and (10) has served the youth sector as an active officer or member of a youth or youth serving organization for at least two years immediately preceding from the date of application.

Meanwhile, interested applicants for National Leader must be (1) Filipino citizen; (2) Must be between 35 to 50 years old as of April 1 of the SSEAYP year applying to; (3) of good moral character; (4) physically and mentally fit to travel; (5) experienced in handling, managing, and supervising groups; and (6) knowledgeable in ASEAN, Japan and other international concerns.

Any of the following may apply: (1) government employee or official with permanent appointment or status whose position is not lower than supervisory, (2) government employee or official with temporary or contractual appointment or status whose term will not end before the Post-program evaluation and of supervisory position, (3) elected or appointed official whose term will not expire before the Post-Program Evaluation, (4) private sector employees who have substantial involvement with the youth sector or active membership in socio-civic organizations for at least five years and of supervisory position and former Participating Youth.— Joeberth M. Ocao/QSB