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By Rigoberto Banta Jr., Guest Reporter

 

As a sub-event of the annual Asian Culture Forum (ACF), the Asian Culture Forum Youth Camp was held in line with the ACF from September 7-9, 2010. It was an outlet for Korean and international youth to express their opinions and ideas on this year’s theme, “New Asia in the Eyes of the Youth”. The three-day event was held in Mugak Temple Culture Center with the participants following the schedule of the forum’s lectures and presentations at the Kim Dae Jung Convention Center. I have learned two ideas in this camp: One is the power of youth, the capability of the young people to start a revolution to change the way we live right now, and the second would be the potential of Asia and what “New Asia” really means to someone like me.

According to Mr. Gyonggi Shin, chairman of the ACF, the camp was the “cream of the crop” of this year’s event. “More than the forum itself, new ideas from the youth who shall carry out the actions based on the results of the forum is first and foremost. After all, the youth will be the carrier of Asia’s future.” The forum brought students from all over the country together to talk about the idea of “New Asia”. As a fellow participant myself, I saw how the discussions grew, how different perspectives from people of different backgrounds clash and what contributed to the realization of what the youth can do in order to reach “New Asia”.

In a struggling region such as Asia, which has made the biggest contributions to the world population, one of the possible agents of change would be the young people. The young people of Asia, soaked in a fast-paced lifestyle based in high-tech, given the proper opportunities, can be the ambassadors for the future of Asia. Using different means, the voice of youth in Asia will boom overseas and would showcase to other parts of the world what the youth of Asia can do—together. New ideas, new perspectives of the 21^st century will be all captured in the eyes of young blood seeking for the betterment of the region without, of course, leaving out fun. This “New Asia” perspective will rely largely on the work the youth is prepared to undertake.

Given the potential of the youth, we need to understand the need to provide proper education to these ambassadors, an understanding that will enable them to jump-start a new movement. “New Asia”, I have come to know, is not a new idea—it is a restoration of an old-world order. It is the reorganization of the world politics, economics and culture back to where it all started—Asia. New Asia will cross over the status quo of reaching western standards and create the concept of “one Asia”—a region united through its diversity. There is still a lot to be done. Time will be a huge factor in determining when and how will we reach “New Asia”. But through the eyes of youth, these New Asians will provide a good start.