What Will ASEAN Community Bring to Young People?
First
of all, the regional integration especially in term of the economy promises a
lot of possibilities for youth to acquire their future jobs. Basically, since
AEC is approaching, there will be influx of regional and foreign investments in
the region, resulting in a wide range of job opportunities available for
people. The increasing of employment opportunities can be considered as a
positive challenge for youth especially in CMLV to level up their academic
capacities and skills in order to compete in this proactive market labor force.
As the workplaces in the region become more and more diversified, youth can
also experience and expose to the global mindset working environment which is
essential for their future goals.
Secondly,
ASEAN Community also
promotes and enhances cultural understanding and awareness among ASEAN
citizens, thereby helping to alleviate the problems of discrimination and
cultural misunderstanding within the member countries. In this community where
the members share common goals and one same destiny, the emphasis on regional
and individual country culture is mandatory. Hence, with the integration,
people from different member states will have to learn the differences and to
accept the strengths and weaknesses. They need to learn about different
cultures and they have to work in a diversified environment. The outcomes do
not only include the development of the understanding of the cultures at the
regional level, but they also encompass the capacity and potential allowing
people to work even at the global level; this is particularly important for
youth.
Thirdly, within the political and
security community, youth are rendered more and more opportunities to partake
in politics of their country and the region much more than ever before. On top
of that, they have great opportunities to actively involve in dialogue to
exchange views on regional and international issues and contribute to regional
peace and stability, one of the main purposes of the establishment of ASEAN.
With no doubts, ASEAN First Model ASEAN meeting is an example of a role of
youth to participate actively to address the regional issue; it will provide
the chance of ASEAN talented youth to become delegates of their nations in
ASEAN meeting to resolve a trafficking in person which is one of the current
controversial topics the region is facing.
Last but not least, with the
great advancement of integration, ASEAN Community aims to promote the democratic
government and peace-building cooperation in the region. Hence, we strongly
believe that this community will bring such a big positive impact on young
people to witness the community based on value of freedom, democracy, human
rights, human dignity and human security. Moreover, youth will be able to
develop themselves to become the next future leader in the region. As Kofi Anan
puts “Youth are not only leader for tomorrow, but partners for today. As a
result, they are serving as a preliminary force to urge peace and development
in the community. Hence, ASEAN is basically a platform and a “Caring and
Sharing Community” for youth.
All in all, we believe that ASEAN
Community will bring the utmost opportunities to young people. We hope to collaboratively work with brothers and sisters from the same
community to resolve the current issues we are facing and to promote cultural
awareness and regional and even global network. Therefore, we hope that the
committee could sense our excitement and burning passion to be a part of the
meritorious program that renders the chances for us to be a part of the
region’s development.
Written by Edited by Peou Sopheak
