A group of 24 youth from across Meghalaya were selected to participate in the International Youth Exchange Programme (IYEP) in Jakarta, Indonesia, from February 16 to 22.
Launched in 2015, IYEP was designed to offer students the opportunity to represent their schools, colleges and institutions in district-level competitions, eventually leading to state, national and international representation, a press release informed today. This initiative has provided a platform for Meghalaya’s youth to showcase their talents while promoting cultural exchange and personal development, it added.
The program not only aims to boost self-confidence and teamwork but also to foster cross-cultural understanding and encourage participants to engage with peers from diverse backgrounds and form lifelong friendships.
This marks the fourth batch of students from Meghalaya to participate in an IYEP. Out of 600 applicants in 2023, only 24 students from 12 districts were selected for this opportunity. The programme began with a two-day orientation session held in Shillong from February 14 to 15, before the students departed for Jakarta via Singapore.
The team, which also included four officials from the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, arrived in Jakarta on February 17. The following day, they visited several historical sites and cultural landmarks in the city. On February 19, the team participated in a cultural exchange with Jakarta’s youth at St John Bosco Parish. They were warmly welcomed by the Parish Rector, Fr Paulus Rarasta, and the local youth group. Later, they toured various vocational and technical training institutes in Jakarta.
Today the team travelled to Bali to take part in further activities organised by the Directorate.
