Australian youth arrive in Indonesia to promote friendship, cultural exchange

Eighteen young Australians arrive in Indonesia today for a two-month visit aimed at fostering friendship and understanding between the peoples of Australia and Indonesia.

Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) is the location for this year’s Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP). NTB Governor H.E. Mr Lalu Serinata will personally welcome the participants as his special guests at the NTB Provincial Anniversary celebrations on 17 December.

The NTB government has developed an exciting program for the group, including a community development project in Sigerongan Village, West Lombok with the theme, “Caring for our Environment”.

They will plant trees and help their host families in the village develop systems for keeping the waterways clean, rubbish collection, recycling, composting, and an environmental assessment of village fish ponds.

Participants will organise a diorama competition for students at SMP 4 Dasan Teran, Narmada, a school constructed under Australia’s 2.5 trillion rupiah program to build 2000 schools in Indonesia by 2009.

The 18 Australian young people will be accompanied by their 18 Indonesian counterparts, who have just completed a successful two-month stay in Melbourne, Australia, under the bilateral youth exchange.

Established in 1982, AIYEP operates under a MoU between the Indonesian and Australian Governments. The program provides opportunities for the young people of Indonesia and Australia to appreciate the culture, development and the way of life of the other country. This annual program is sponsored by the Australia-Indonesia Institute and the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sport.

Further information:
Fiona Hoggart (First Secretary, Cultural Affairs)
Tel. (021) 2550 5260, mob. 0811 936 302