Project News

On November 12th, 40 participants of SSEAYP (sponsored by the Cabinet Office of Japan) visited one of the pilot schools, Rizal Experimental Station and Pilot School of Cottage Industries (RESPSCI) in Pasig City, Metro Manila.

SSEAYP provides the participating youths with the opportunity to live together on board the ship for about 43 days and visit some ASEAN countries as well as Japan. The activities in the countries visited include exchange with local youth, home stay, visit to various facilities and volunteer activities. It aims to promote mutual understanding and friendship between youths as well as to broaden the global perspective of the youths, and to cultivate the spirit of international cooperation. This year, the members of the 42th SSEAYP from 10 ASEAN countries and Japan visited the Philippines, and later will also visit Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Viet Nam.

The welcome ceremony was held in RESPSCI. A representative of the school introduced the school and the JICA project conducted in the school, and an officer of Japanese Embassy made a warm greeting to the participants. Ms. Sayaka Suzuki (Industry Linkage Expert of the Project) also was given an opportunity to welcome the youths. After the ceremony, the participants observed each booth in which the RESPSCI students introduced and demonstrated what they had studied in their courses. They also participated in activities with instruction from the students. The booth that participants enjoyed most was the ‘bar' booth organized by the students of ‘Bartending' course. The participants were very excited to know that the students could mix non-alcohol cocktails. Bath Towel Arts (folding bath towel into shapes such as ‘swan' or ‘dog', just like as we can see in a hotel) were demonstrated by the students of ‘Housekeeping' course also attracted their attention. The participants enjoyed making the bath towel of a swan shape with the students. The teacher of ‘Housekeeping' course said proudly, "Of course there are some basic shapes for the bath towel arts, but some of these are invented by the students themselves."

The participants said, "How wonderful they can study recipes of cocktails at school!" "I learned how to fold a bath towel into ‘swan' shape. It was very surprising for me that they learned it at school!"

The reaction of participants' of RESPSCI seemed to be beyond their expectation. They had not imagined that their study in school could attract people in such a way. In each booth, the students introduced and demonstrated what they studied with smile and looked proud of their own skills and knowledge. Such kind of feeling (being proud of their own study) will motivate them to study as well as bring confidence to the students. SSEYP provoked motivation to learn not only for the participants but also for the students in RESPSCI.

Welcome Poster

Participants of "SSEAYP"

Learning how to fold a towel from the RESPSCI students

"Bath towel art" display of RESPSCI students