Asean e-Culture Exchange Workshop Closing

Written by Farah Ahmadnawi

A Farewell dinner and prize presentation was held for participants of the 2nd AseanCulture Exchange Workshop for Youth 2009 at the Sheraton Utama hotel on June 27.

The workshop was organised by the Authority for Info-Communications Technology of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) in collaboration with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB).

Twenty participants from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam took part in the workshop during which, they were required to create and develop mini-documentary video clips from their cultural visits to Mukim Tamoi, Kampong Ayer.

The workshop is a continuation of the first AseanCulture Exchange Workshop for Youth 2009, which was held earlier in March. Both events were initiatives in line with the `Digitisation of AseanCultural content: E-Culture/EHeritage for Youth’ project.

Among the aims of the programme are to expand a standard framework for digitising Asean cultural materials in an organised and systematic way whilst promoting awareness on maintaining our national culture and heritage especially among the youths.

It also focuses on educating participants on the professional techniques including finalising the standard framework in accordance with the UNESCO standards in digitising Asean cultural and heritage materials.

In his opening speech, Dr Saiful Azmi Haji Husain, one of the local project coordinators said, “From the outcome of the forum, the Asean Ministers have agreed to revitalise the Asean e-Youth Forum by ensuring that work activities and priorities are relevant and supportive of the Asean ICT Focus Work programmes.

“The organising committee trusts that this conference again has provided a lively forum for the discussion and dissemination of novel ideas in professional digital movie production in culture or heritage, leading to further research collaboration and professional friendships and networking amongst Asean participants and elsewhere.”

Through these workshop initiatives, it is hoped that the Asean youths will be more receptive in preserving their respective national heritage and culture, which can also be a functional reference for the future generations. Aside from that, it also aimed at promoting mutual respect, teamwork and friendship amongst the participants.

The event concluded with a certificate presentation to the participants followed by the announcement for the best prize digital video productions. The team ‘Bisa Bisa’ emerged as champions followed by `Team Tazmanian’.

The workshop was sponsored by b.mobile Communications Sdn Bhd, Cityneon Displays and Construction Sdn Bhd, DST Group, Mas Sugara Travel and TelBru Berhad.— Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin