From 20th – 27th March 2017, JAV has supported for Vietnam high school students to participate TYCA 2017 under TOSHIBA Youth Club Asia sponsor. Toshiba Youth Club Asia (TYCA) is a program that aims at creating a network of young Asian leaders who in the future will work towards building and strengthening peace and harmony in the Asia-Pacific region. Selected High School students from Southeast Asian countries (Cambodia, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam) and from Japan take part in one-week Exchange Camp in National Olympics Memorial Youth Center (Yoyogi Olympic Center), Tokyo – Japan.
During the program, the participants exchange views with each other and think about issues that will impact our future, such as world energy, sustainability, advanced technological solutions and others with general goals:
- To raise young people’s interest and passion for Japan.
- Encourage students to develop their information analysis and communication skills
To create an Asian network of young leaders for Peace and Harmony
We are representative of Vietnamese group with Nguyen Nhat Anh (18 years old student of Doan Thi Diem High School), Hoang Nhat Minh (16-year-old student from Le Quy Don Highschool) and advisor PhD. Hua Thuy Trang (lecturer of Thang Long University).
We were given the opportunity to have in depth discussions on identity and diversity. Each participant shared stories and experiences about their own countries and through that we realized, although we come from different parts of the region, we share many similarities in terms of social, environmental and economic issues and visions. Afterwards, we were enlightened by lectures and videos on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and vision. We used this knowledge to brainstorm solutions to the problems that both ASEAN countries and Japan face. Despite the serious mood of the day, they didn’t forget to enjoy the Kinnya Monya Dance.
Team T, team Y, team C, team A celebrated World Water Day or rather their third day in the TYCA program by envisioning an efficient, sustainable and cooperative Asian community through advanced education, developed economies and preserved environments. During our stay in this program, we realized the gravity and the relation between the problems that each of countries face, whether it be environmental or economic issues. Each group was exposed to the need to work together as a powerful unified Asia through lectures from Dr. Yamaguchi and Dr. Ishibashi and also through the enjoyable game of Logy&Nomy. Since then, they believed that finding the solution to the various obstacles we all share can only be discovered through developed, informed or educated and eco-friendly countries that help each other out.
The vision we set up a day ago wasn’t the best version we could possibly come up with. It was only after today’s trip to the Hydrogen Museum, Toshiba Museum and the lecture of Dr. Ishibashi that our eyes were opened to the various aspects that our vision can cover and engage with. We were exposed to the reality of the everyday person and the struggle of organizations and countries to cater to people on the ground while protecting the environment and thinking of long term effects. In our first program, we learned about how the hydrogen car, MIRAI, works and how it is not only eco-friendly but also very useful and efficient in real life. Furthermore, we saw first hand the potential of a “hydrogen society” and how it is both safe and efficient. At the end of the day, the speedy evolution of technology like the internet and every day appliances was explained to us, and through that we realized how much more our vision could achieve. That is how we added “the empowerment and protection of each person”, “inclusivity”, “technology” and “medication”. We truly believe that if we focus on these specific fields, Asia will slowly become a better place for people to live in.
To establish an Asian Community centered around efficiency, sustainability, inclusivity and cooperation that forwards the empowerment and protection of each person through advancements in education, environmental conservation, innovation and social involvement. After today’s events, we added a small but significant change to our vision by including innovation and social involvement. As we learned steps on how to make the world better, our group picked up many essential lessons and insights from our Mock International Negotiation Activity by Dr. Alvarez and the lecture on the final presentation. The Mock Negotiation not only taught us more about a real life issue on the Mekong dam, but it also allowed us to put on the shoes of real diplomats and world leaders. In this very exciting and enjoyable activity, we faced challenges such as representing the interests of a state, persuading other diplomats to be aligned with our own goals, finding compromises between two opposing sides and most importantly realizing the need of alliances despite losing some benefits. At the end, we came to the conclusion that when states sacrifice some of their interests, they can still uphold the greater good for the region. This lesson was very important when we started preparing for our final presentation. It was through this that we were able to think of concrete solutions and plans that take into consideration the benefit of all while remaining effective despite weaknesses. Hopefully, this is the start of a diplomatic career in the near future.
Nhat Minh has shared emotion after completed the camp: “The TYCA program, up to now, was the most wonderful experience in my life. It has open my eyes to a thrive and developed country where the people are not only hospitable and friendly but also very discipline. Apart from learning about some crucial problem all over the present world, especially regarding the topic “Economy and Environment”, I got to studied and embrace the diverse culture from 6 others ASEAN countries along with Japan and made some amazing friends who made my journey more memorable. I don’t think that there are any words that can describe my feeling but I will never forget what I have learnt and experienced in the TYCA program”.
Nhat Anh also has sent message after completed the camp: “I had a wonderful experience in Tokyo, Japan. I learnt a lot through various activities such as discussing, debating, presenting ideas and listening to others about environmental problems and advances in technology. Also, I learnt how to collaborate with others so both sides can gain benefits. Furthermore, I learnt about the consequences of human activities as mankind keep developing carelessly through Logy&Nomy game introduced by Keio University. Not only I learnt about the environment and technology, but I also l learnt about Japanese cultures and ate delicious Japanese foods like miso, udon, ramen and curry. Beside indoor activities, I got to visit Yoyogi Park to see Hanami and Meiji Jingu, Toshiba museum, Toyota museum and Hydrogen power museum. Even though it was only seven days, I had such a memorable experience and met up with amazing people from Japan and others from ASEAN countries”.
We would like to express our thankful to JAV and the TYCA for giving us such a great opportunity to go to Japan, to bring many fruitful for Vietnamese young leader do the best for “Dreaming of a Unified and Empowered Asia”/./
Reported by: Hua Thuy Trang – Advisor of TYCA Vol.3 (Vietnam Group).
