TEN THOUSAND POSTCARDS ON THEIR WAY TO SINGAPORE!

This summer break will be a memorable for 10,000 elementary school students in the Philippines as they will be designing, drawing, and writing their impressions and thoughts of their country on postcards to their counterparts throughout ASEAN.

The "Postcards Across ASEAN" project was launched in Manila on 3 May 2007 by the Philippine Department of Education, Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Singapore Embassy in Manila to commemorate ASEAN's 40th anniversary. Present at the launch were 100 school children and representatives from the ASEAN countries. Ronald McDonald House Charities and Asia Brewery Inc also showed their strong support of the event by contributing stationery packages, gift vouchers, and "100-plus" drinks to the young participants.

"Postcards Across ASEAN" is a Singapore initiative to introduce the concept of ASEAN and the ASEAN community to the young citizens of Southeast Asia. By drawing and writing their impressions of their home, 10,000 Filipino children will acquaint children of other ASEAN countries with the Philippines; these Filipino children will in turn receive postcards from children of Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia, and, of course, Singapore. Altogether, 100,000 children (6-12 years old) from all over ASEAN will be participating in the project.

Selected postcards will be put together in an exhibition to be held in Singapore at the end of 2007 when it hosts the next ASEAN Summit. In his address at the launch of the project in Manila, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus commended the project as an excellent opportunity to promote greater understanding, harmony and cooperation among the youth in ASEAN: "With the postcards as canvas, we shall see ASEAN come to life - as interpreted by the young boys and girls who live in ASEAN." Singapore's Ambassador to the Philippines Lim Kheng Hua also stressed the need to engage the young in efforts to promote the ASEAN Community: "It is Singapore's sincere hope that this project will be part of that effort to start and forge long-lasting friendships among our young ASEAN citizens."