ASEAN New Zealand Youth Conference 2018: Successful Follow through to Embassy #YAMBA initiative

Deputy Principal Helen Kinsey-Wightman delivers the Welcome Remarks in behalf of PNGHS as college co-host of ASEAN New Zealand Youth Conference 2018 (ANZYC’ 18). In her speech, she briefly touched on the time she lived in the Philippines as a faculty member at the British School in Manila. (Wellington PE photo)

WELLINGTON 08 November 2018 — Following the remarkable outcome of the ASEAN New Zealand Youth Conference (ANZYC) in 2017, the ASEAN Committee in Wellington (ACW) successfully conducted a 2018 follow through dubbed as ANZYC’18 on October 8 at the Palmerston North Girls High School (PNGHS).

Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo developed the program around the core concept of the Embassy’s Youth Ambassador (“#YAMBA”) program on leadership development in support of the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2017. ANZYC aims to promote greater awareness and present opportunities for youth engagement, study and careers in ASEAN-New Zealand relations among the Kiwi student participants.

PNGHS Director International Education Christine Prasitdamrong facilitated the participation of PNGHS students during the pilot run last year. Thereafter, the PNGHS administration offered to be the college co-host of the 2018.

Since 2017, the ACW has adopted ANZYC among its activities. The ACW comprises of the resident missions in Wellington of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and is currently chaired by Vietnamese Ambassador Ta Van Thong.

Malaysian High Commissioner Nur Izzah Wong Mee Choo, Thai Ambassador Danai Menabodhi, and Indonesian Counsellor Elleonora Tambunan joined Ambassador Domingo in presenting on their respective countries’ bilateral relations with New Zealand and in serving as resource persons for the panel discussion during the Open forum.

ANZYC’18 also benefited from the valuable support of Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) Chair in Business in Asia and Director of the Southeast Asia Centre of Asia Pacific Excellence Professor Siah Hwee Ang, Asia New Zealand Foundation Acting Education Director Mr. Sean O’Connor, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade Asia Regional Division Senior Policy Officer Ms. Erin Duncan, and Palmerston North Deputy Mayor Mr. Tangi Utikere

ANZYC’18 also provided the opportunity to introduce ASEAN culinary during lunch and afternoon refreshments. END

For more information, visit www.wellingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philembassy.org.nz or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNZ/

Apart from Palmerston North Girls High School (PNGHS), Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Awatapu College, Freyberg High School, Nga Tawa Diocesan School and St. Peter’s College took part in ANZYC’18. Ambassador Domingo is 5th from left in the row of those standing behind seated students. To his right are Mr. Sean O’Connor, Acting Education Director of the Asia New Zealand Foundation and Ms. Erin Duncan, Senior Policy Officer at the Asia Regional Division of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade. To his left are Thai Ambassador Danai Menabodhi, Malaysian High Commissioner Nur Izzah Wong Mee Choo, Indonesian Counsellor Elleonora Tambunan, and Victoria University Chair in Business in Asia and SEACAPE Director Professor Siah Hwee Ang. (Wellington PE photo)

Ambassador Domingo delivers the Opening Remarks, which provides the rationale for the Youth Conference and an overview on ACW, among others. Also in the photo are the Malaysian High Commissioner and Indonesian Counsellor who joined him in the panel of resource persons. (Wellington PE photo)

Malaysian High Commissioner Nur Izzah Wong Mee Choo presenting the Certificate of Appreciation to Ms. Christine Prasitdamrong for her vital contribution to the ANZYC’18 as PNGHS Focal Point and Coordinator. (Wellington PE photo)