An ASEAN-wide letter writing contest for youths to voice their opinions to US President Barack Obama has named their winners.
Keomorakot Mam from Cambodia; Chew Jern Ian from Malaysia; Mary Anne Therese C. Manuson from the Philippines; and Nguyen The Kha from Vietnam over the weekend were flown to Kuala Lumpur, compliments of Air Asia, to celebrate their win at the Youth’10 festival. The contest also recognised Ms Patricia Sevilleno from the Philippines and Ms Elsa Bura from Indonesia.
The contest garnered over 200 entries, which were then compiled into a book, signed by the four winners on behalf of all the participants. The Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, Bagas Hapsoro, who was present at the signing ceremony, accepted the book on behalf of ASEAN and presented it to US officials for transmission to the White House.
The letter writing contest was held as a lead up to President Obama’s visit to Jakarta. The contest was done online through the ASEAN Voices website (www.aseanvoices.org), developed with the support of the United States Department of State.
From 18 March to 30 April 2010, ASEAN youth between the ages of 15 and 35 could logon to the site to post letters to the President and choose among five predetermined topics: education, the environment, economic development, internet freedom and interfaith relations. Visitors to the site were also invited to vote for their favourite letters for each category. The winning letters were selected by an expert panel.
The website has so far attracted 8,017 visitors from around ASEAN and the over 200 entries received 11,152 comments. A companion ASEAN Voices Facebook page currently has 418 ’fans‘ and a Twitter site has 168 ’followers‘.
More information here.
Keomorakot Mam from Cambodia; Chew Jern Ian from Malaysia; Mary Anne Therese C. Manuson from the Philippines; and Nguyen The Kha from Vietnam over the weekend were flown to Kuala Lumpur, compliments of Air Asia, to celebrate their win at the Youth’10 festival. The contest also recognised Ms Patricia Sevilleno from the Philippines and Ms Elsa Bura from Indonesia.
The contest garnered over 200 entries, which were then compiled into a book, signed by the four winners on behalf of all the participants. The Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, Bagas Hapsoro, who was present at the signing ceremony, accepted the book on behalf of ASEAN and presented it to US officials for transmission to the White House.
The letter writing contest was held as a lead up to President Obama’s visit to Jakarta. The contest was done online through the ASEAN Voices website (www.aseanvoices.org), developed with the support of the United States Department of State.
From 18 March to 30 April 2010, ASEAN youth between the ages of 15 and 35 could logon to the site to post letters to the President and choose among five predetermined topics: education, the environment, economic development, internet freedom and interfaith relations. Visitors to the site were also invited to vote for their favourite letters for each category. The winning letters were selected by an expert panel.
The website has so far attracted 8,017 visitors from around ASEAN and the over 200 entries received 11,152 comments. A companion ASEAN Voices Facebook page currently has 418 ’fans‘ and a Twitter site has 168 ’followers‘.
More information here.
