ASEAN community is just around the corner. In the next few years, we should be ready for a flux of workforce from ASEAN countries entering Indonesia. Competition is getting tougher, everyone is challenged to have qualified skills in their respective fields in order not to be crushed by the demands of this era. Youth as the spearhead of civilization are also required to be able to show its role in the development of the country and establish good relations with other countries. Carrying the theme of Rebuilding Youth Diplomacy Strengthening ASEAN Connectivity, Nusantara Young Leader (NYL) a non-governmental organization, organized an event titled South East Asia Leaders Summit (SEAL-S) in Surabaya, held at Fave Max Hotel, Surabaya (8-11 / 2). A student of the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Department of English Language Education, Anis Nur Fatimah had the opportunity to attend the event. "To be able to follow the SEAL-S in Surabaya, participants must write an essay in English that is divided into several clusters such as sociocultural, politics, economics and technology. Since I learn language that involves culture I, then, wrote an essay in the sociocultural sphere," said Anis.
Furthermore, Anis stated that SEAL-S has the objective to invite young leaders of Southeast Asia to improve their ability to rebuild youth diplomacy through ASEAN connectivity, providing a forum for youth to share ideas and concrete action with each other for a better future of ASEAN and provides a strong platform as a partner of government to work together to achieve the ASEAN connectivity. "2016 South East Asia Leaders Summit (SEAL-S) aims to call youths in ASEAN to work under the spirit of togetherness to strengthen ASEAN connectivity. This activity consists of international workshops, round table discussions, essay presentation, SEAL-S Declaration, cultural performances and a city tour. SEAL-S provides an opportunity for young leaders of Southeast Asia to put forward their ideas into consideration for the government in making decisions, "she added.
International workshop which took place on the second day was attended by speakers who are experts in their respective field from ASEAN Youth Center, the International Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) and the ASEAN Youth Friendship Network (AYFN). In the evening, participants held roundtable discussions based on the existing clusters. Participants were surprised by the regulations amended by the committee. Clusters discussed by the participants did not correspond with the essays they have made. Participants who wrote on economic cluster discussed the issues on social and cultural, as well as other participants. At first, all participants felt confused because they did not have enough knowledge to discuss, but it turned out that this would be a challenge. Although the topic of discussion was not appropriate to the essays they wrote, in fact they were able to discuss and formulate solutions to various problems in the scope of ASEAN from various lines.
After attending the international workshop and round table discussions, participants were pampered with a city tour on the third day. They visited two important and historical places in Surabaya, Grahadi Building and Jalesveva Jayamahe Monument. From this activity, participants can learn a lesson that not only diplomats who become ambassadors of the nation in other countries, but it is us, young people who become ambassadors in relationships with people in other countries. "For me, the theme of SEAL-S that is to build diplomacy with other countries would not be actualized within 4 days of it. Instead, diplomacy took place after 4 days of it. I feel like an agent of nation when telling about Indonesia, especially Yogyakarta to the participants from Vietnam, “Anis said. (Anis Nur Fatimah)
