FAQ: UNESCO Asia Pacific Youth Forum 2007

All about the . . .

UNESCO Asia Pacific World Heritage Youth Forum 2007

18-23 June 2007

What is the Youth Forum about?
International World Heritage Youth Fora enable young people to exchange experiences and ideas about how to become involved in heritage conservation. They aim to inspire future leaders and give them the opportunity to engage in World Heritage activities and strengthen regional and international cooperation and relationships. World Heritage Youth Fora have been held prior to World Heritage Committee sessions since the first was held in Bergen, Norway in1995.

What is this year’s Youth Forum goal?
Young leaders nominated by countries throughout the Asia Pacific region will be living amongst and learning about some of New Zealand’s finest natural and cultural heritage sites. Youth Forum delegates will present their findings – a 12-minute documentary film of their week - to UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura after the powhiri welcome to World Heritage Committee delegates on Saturday 22 June.

How will delegates complete this goal?
Delegates will be split into World Heritage teams and visit five heritage sites, they will be escorted by local Department of Conservation exports as well as UNESCO staffers and will stay on ancestral marae. It will be an incredible– merging cultural and natural history into one learning experience. From Tuesday 19 June, 12.15pm to Wednesday 20 June 5.30pm:

Kaikoura Takahanga Marae, Kaikoura
Banks Peninsula Onuku Marae, Akaroa
Lake Ellesmere Onuku Marae, Akaroa
Geraldine Arowhenua Marae, Timaru
Timaru Arowhenua Marae, Timaru

Teams will be accompanied by documentary film crews and will film their visits to heritage sites in the region: Media welcome

Who will delegates present their documentary film to?
When the teams return to Christchurch on Wednesday they will spend two days editing their raw footage into a 12-minute documentary that will be presented to the Director General of UNESCO, Mr Koichiro Matsuura after the official welcome ceremony for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s 31st Session on Saturday 23 June. Mr Matsuura will respond to this Youth Challenge immediately after.

For more information: http://www.unesco.org.nz

ENDS

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