Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program

The passenger liner Nippon-maru after the great remodeling

The Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (東南アジア青年の船 Tōnan-ajia-seinen-no-fune^?), commonly referred to as The Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program and SSEAYP /sjɑːp/ , /siːˈjɑːp/ see-YAHP, is an annual youth exchange program organised by the Cabinet Office of Japan and governments of Southeast Asian countries for the purpose of promoting friendship and mutual understanding among the youths of eleven Southeast Asian countries and Japan, to broaden their perspective on the world, and furthermore, to strengthen their spirit of international cooperation and practical skills for international collaboration. Since its inception in 1974, the program has organised 46 international voyages attended by youth delegations sent by governments of respective members.

Four cruise ships have been deployed by the CaO for the journeys.

Purpose

The purpose of SSEAYP is to promote friendship and mutual understanding among the youths of the ten Southeast Asian countries and Japan, to broaden their perspective to the world, and furthermore, to strengthen their spirit of international cooperation and practical skills for international collaboration.

History

SSEAYP is an annual programme sponsored by the Japanese Cabinet Office and supported by the member-countries of ASEAN. The programme brings together more than 300 youths from ASEAN countries and Japan, providing them with the unique opportunity to live together on board the ship Nippon Maru for over 40 days.

SSEAYP started in January 1974 based on Joint Statements issued between Japan and the five ASEAN countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined in 1985. Viet Nam joined the programme in 1995 while the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Myanmar joined in 1998, Cambodia in 2000.

Program Outline

On Board Activities

- Discussion Group (DG)

- Solidarity Group Activity (SG Activity)

- Participating Youth Seminar (PY Seminar)

- Voluntary Activity (VA)

- National Presentation (NP)

- Flag Hoisting

Port-of-Call Activities

- Courtesy Calls

- Institutional Visits

- Interaction with Local Youths

- Homestay Program

Working Language

The official working language for the program is English.

Participating Countries

Country	Year of joining SSEAYP
Brunei Darussalam	1985
Cambodia	2000
Indonesia	1974
Japan	1974
Lao People's Democratic Republic	1998
Malaysia	1974
Myanmar	1998
Philippines	1974
Singapore	1974
Thailand	1974
Vietnam	1995

Cruise Ships in Use

Period		Ship	Current status
1974 - 1976		Nippon Maru (A)
1976 - 1989		Nippon Maru (B)
1990 - 2008		Nippon Maru (C)
2009 - 2012		Fuji Maru
2013–Present		Nippon Maru (C)

SSEAYP International General Assembly (SIGA)

SSEAYP International General Assembly (SIGA) shall be organized annually by member Alumni Association (AA) for the following purposes: A To create opportunity for the reunion of former participants to promote lasting friendship, understanding and goodwill. B To exchange information on activities of AA & SI secretariat; C The agenda for SIGA shall include 3 parts as follows: C1 Council of Presidents Meeting C2 Open Forum C3 Organised tour / Home stay / Social Service Projects proposed by Host Country

The following SIGA were successfully hosted by AA since 1988:

1. 1988 Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur)

2. 1989 Philippines (Quezon City)

3. 1990 Brunei Darussalam (Bandar Seri Begawan)

4. 1991 Indonesia (Jakarta)

5. 1992 Singapore

6. 1993 Thailand (Bangkok)

7. 1994 Japan (Tokyo)

8. 1995 Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Genting Highlands)

9. 1996 Philippines (Pasay)

10. 1997 Brunei Darussalam (Bandar Seri Begawan)

11. 1998 Philippines (Clark)

12. 1999 Singapore

13. 2000 Indonesia (Bali)

14. 2001 Thailand (Bangkok, Ko Samet)

15. 2002 Japan (Tokyo)

16. 2004 Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Malacca)

17. 2005 Viet Nam (Hanoi, Halong Bay)

18. 2006 Brunei Darussalam (Bandar Seri Begawan)

19. 2007 Cambodia (Siem Reap)

20. 2008 Philippines (Cebu)

21. 2009 Indonesia (Yogyakarta)

22. 2010 Thailand (Ayutthaya)

23. 2011 Singapore

24. 2012 Japan (Tokyo)

25. 2013 Lao P.D.R. (Vientiane)

26. 2014 Malaysia (Langkawi)

27. 2015 Viet Nam (Hanoi, Halong Bay)

28. 2016 Cambodia (Siem Reap)

29. 2017 Philippines (Iloilo, Boracay)

30. 2018 Indonesia (Bandung)

31. 2019 Brunei Darussalam (Bandar Seri Begawan)

32. 2022 Japan (Online)

33. 2024 Thailand (Pattaya)

Alumni Organisations

Secretariat

SSEAYP International (coordinated with IYEO)

Full Member

Brunei Darussalam : Persatuan BERSATU (SSEAYP International Brunei Darussalam/SI Brunei Darussalam)

Cambodia : SSEAYP International Cambodia (SI Cambodia)

Indonesia : SSEAYP International Indonesia, Inc. (SI Indonesia/SII)

Japan : IYEO (International Youth Exchange Organization of Japan)

Malaysia : KABESA (SSEAYP International Malaysia/SI Malaysia)

Myanmar : Association for Youth Development Myanmar (SSEAYP International Myanmar/SI Myanmar)

Philippines : SSEAYP International Philipplines, Inc. (SI Philippines/SIP)

Singapore : SSEAYP International Singapore (SI Singapore/SIS)

Since the first SSEAYP was inaugurated on 10 October 1974, former participants from ASEAN started to plan to form Alumni Association in the respective countries. Here are the 11 Chairmen of SAS or President of SIS since her formation on 15 July 1979. Milestone Alumni events organised are highlighted:

1 Mr Tan Eng Leong, PBM (1979 – 1984) - Chairman SAS / YL, 2nd SSEAYP 1975 Mr Tan Eng Leong, PBM , Youth Leader of the 2nd SSEAYP 1975, together with YLs, AYLs and NLs, spearheaded the formation of SSEAYP Alumni Singapore (SAS), which transformed to the current SSEAYP International Singapore (SIS). Mr Tan was elected the inaugural Chairman of Singapore Alumni Association when it birthed on 15 July 1979. - Subsequent Executive Committee members headed by the Chairman were elected among members once every two years. The Wavelength, a quarterly newsletter, was introduced as a means of communication and update to the members at large.

2 Mr Mohamed Hussain Bin Kamis (1984 – 1988) - Chairman SAS Hussain is PY of the 5th SSEAYP, 197. He took over as Chairman in 1984, and was the SIS first national signatory who endorsed the SSEAYP International (SI) Charter in 1987 in Japan. In compliance with the SI Charter, first SSEAYP International General Assembly (SIGA) was organised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by SI-Malaysia or KABESA in 1988. Subsequently, 32 annual SIGA were organised by Alumni Associations on a rotational basis, with the 33th SIGA just concluded on 4 May 2024 in Pattaya, Thailand.

3 Mr Rodney Yee Poh Hong, PBM (1988 – 1990) - Chairman SAS/ PY 1982 Wavelength continued to serve as the communication link with SIS members.

4 Mr Tan Soon Hoe PY, 7th SSEAYP 1980 Chairman SAS 1990 – 1998 & President SIS (2002 – 2008) SIS Hosted the 5th SIGA in Singapore in 1992. Mr John Vijayan, PBM, chaired the 5th SIGA Organisng Committee and SIS produced the third SIS Membership Directory entitled LINK-8 which was launched during 5th SIGA. `SIS was given the honor in chairing the nominating committee for the Pan-Pacific Youth Exchange Programme (PPYEP) in 1995, co-sponsored by the Osaka Association for Youth Development (OAYD); SIS facilitated the appointment of active former SPY as SNL as an incentive to SIS volunteer and the scheme was endorsed by Chairman of National Youth Council in 1996. Mr John Vijayan, PBM, became the first SPY to be appointed SNL. In 2003 - SIS participated in a IYEO-led joint project in publishing an updated Directory of former participants from ASEAN and Japan, commemorating the 20th Anniversary of SSEAYP (1974 – 2003).

5 Miss Koh Mui Hiang Jenny (1998 - 2000) - President SIS PY, 14th SSEAYP 1987 & NL, 25th SSEAYP 1998 Jenny Koh headed the 5th SIGA Secretariat in 1992 and was the first and only lady president of SIS. She compiled the first SSEAYP International (SI) booklet in 1997/98 for circulation among Alumni members of ASEAN and Japan, aimed at raising the awareness of SI. Jenny also established the SIS Homestay Protem Committee in 1999 together with SPYs-1998 and Mr Mohd Imhar bin Said, PBM (PY, 11th SSEAYP 1984 & NL, 26th SSEAYP 1999) prior to SSEAYP 1999 Homestay to streamline the process in the recruitment of Singapore host families while co-chaired the SIS Homestay Committee with Mr Mohd Imhar bin Said, PBM, from 2000-2010. SIS hosted the 12th SIGA in Singapore in 1999 and launched the LINK-8+ (Wavelength – Special 1999 Edition). She appointed Mr Tan Soon Hoe as chairman for the 12th SIGA Organizing Committee and the LINK-8+ Editorial Committee. Under the leadership of Ms Jenny Koh, the roles of SIS was expanded to include: • Chairmanship of the Singapore Local Programme Reception Committee since 2000; • Member of the PY Selection Panel since 2000; • Chairmanship of the SWY local programme in Singapore in 2002 and 2003 • Active partnership in youth exchange programmes with Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan (Iwate), Malaysia(collaboration with NYC) and Vietnam. SIS hosted a SI Millenium Chat-cum-Dinner in local hotel in October 2000 to commemorate SSEAYP Day, wherein PYs from any country can dial in to chat.

6 William Cheong, PY 1985 (2008 – 2013) - President SIS PY, 12th SSEAYP 1985 & NL, 33rd SSEAYP 2006 Willian placed SIS on the awardee list in the Singapore Guiness World Record for an upcycling project during SSEAYP 2010. The SSEAYP 2010 Local Reception Committee was chaired by Miss Koh Mui Hiang Jenny. An SIS Ex-Co was appointed in hosting the 23th SIGA in Singapore in 2011 with an environmental theme. SIS celebrated SSEAYP 30th Anniversary with a commemorative video.

7 Mr Alvin Lee Thiam Siew, PBM (2013 – 2016) - President SIS PY, 31st SSEAYP 2004 & NL, 38th SSEAYP 2011 - Led the milestone move in registering SSEAYP International Singapore as an independent society with the Registry of Societies Singapore on 28 November 2013. - Streamlined the SIS Biennial General Meeting (BGM) standard operating procedures (SOP).

8 Mr Tang Kwok Hoong Gerald, PBM (2016 – 2018) - President SIS PY, 34th SSEAYP 2007 - Certificate of Honour was presented by the Japan government to SIS in 2016 for its significant contributions in promoting friendship between the people of Singapore and Japan. Board Members of SIS and activists were also nominated for Certificate of Commendation in conjunction with the SIS Award.

9 Mr Yacob Hussain, PBM (2018 – 2020) - President SIS PY, 19th SSEAYP 1992 & NL, 30th SSEAYP 2003 Yocob organised the SSEAYP 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner at the Universal Studios, Sentosa, Singapore and established a SIS-SCA Fund to assist with school education pursuits for children of needy members.

10 Mr Fong Yoong Kheong, PBM (2020 - 2022) - President SIS PY, 37th SSEAYP 2010 Yoong Kheong set a new standard in keeping SIS members together with “online alumni activities”, in view of the Covid-19 restrictions on social gatherings. The web presence of SIS was revamped with online registration function and e-payment capability via UEN for all activities moving forward. SIS (Sharing Inspirational Stories) birthed in the midst of Covid-19 circuit breaker in 2021, provided a good platform of encouragement and hope to members and friends via Facebook.

11 Mr Muhammad Hafidz Zainal Abidin (2022 – 2024) - President SIS PY, 18th SSEAYP 1991 - Heritage walks organised periodically not only enhance the physical health but also embrace the rich historic values amongst members. - A trees planting day was organised by the SIS EB in commemorating SSEAYP Day and 50th Anniversary of Friendship and Cooperation between ASEAN and Japan on 7 October 2023. - Rapport with Year Representatives was kept warm by Hafidz's Ex-Co with regular engagement and briefing on SIS happenings.

In June 2024, Members of SIS will elect a new Executive Board in a General Meeting scheduled for Saturday 29 June 2024.

Thailand : Association of the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth of Thailand (SSEAYP International Thailand/SI Thailand)

Associate Member

Lao P.D.R. : Lao SSEAYP Alumni Association (LSAA)

Viet Nam : Vietnam Alumni Club of Youth Friendship Exchange Programs (VACYF)

Data is per 24 March 2022

External links

• Official page on CaO website (Japanese only)
• SSEAYP International