Students from 8 Countries Gather to Discuss World Issues at Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Convention 2019

This year, Indonesia hosts Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Convention (APYLC) where top students from schools in eight countries in Asia-Pacific build a forum which concern for developing intellectual engagement and inquiry into issues facing the world.

Held from 8 to 11 April, Bina Nusantara (Binus) School — as 2019 APYLC official host — welcomes young leaders from students from Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. The youth convention aims to build a platform for the top student leaders to network with their counterparts towards greater social and political awareness.

Indonesia is the third country to host the PYLC after China and Singapore. 45 students from 8 Asia-Pacific countries are participating this year in the event with the theme “Embracing Unity, Valuing Diversity” to make a world better place. The event encourages youth in Asia-Pacific countries to contribute in creating harmony and development in all aspects. At the four day event, these young leaders will have the opportunity to build an alliance to make unity and diversity a focal point that can help generate new ideas, develop better technology, offer more creative perspectives.

The 2019 APYLC also highlights the contrast between developed and developing countries in the fields of technology, environment, urban planning, economic, human rights, and education.

Ade Padmo Sarwono Ambassador/Permanent Representative of of Indonesia to the ASEAN opened the event and encouraged the role of youth in creating a better future. Students from country members —  Binus School Lunhua Education High School, Nan Chiau High School, Kaichi High School, St. Paul’s Collegiate School, Mingdao High School, Incheon Posco Academy, and Brisbane Grammar School were involved in a series of talks and panel discussions from international organisations.

During the convention, the youth delegations from each country will deliver a presentation about their school and state their views addressing the issue of development. Simulating an international forum, the delegates will receive guidance from organisations such as UNHCR, UNDP, ASEAN Secretariat, Waste4Change, Hope Indonesia, and Habitat for Humanity.

Peter Matthew Saidi, chairman of the committee of APYLC 2019, hopes delegates will be an example for other youth to participate and take action in improving the standard of living of the global community. He also wishes the young generation could demonstrate good values from what they have gotten from the convention, and apply it to their daily lives.

"This kind of programme is very important for students to open their minds and focus their attention on things greater than what they can see, where they live, and their environmental conditions, namely the global future. Thus they can exchange ideas about solutions and get innovations to improve the quality of life globally," Saidi said in a press release