Welcome to the 2nd Asia-Pacific Deaf Youth Camp 2002 Website

DEAFinitely Youth Group (DYG) is working closely with the Deaf Association of New Zealand (DANZ). DYG & DANZ are encouraging Deaf youths from the Asia and Pacific region to take part in this camp. Participants are expected to gain skills in leadership, communication and confidence from indoor and outdoor activities.

Welcome Message from Takeo Ogura

It is a great joy for all of us that the Asian-Pacific Deaf Youth Camp 2002 will be held in New Zealand.

Recently, the environment surrounding the Deaf is beginning to show signs of change. In our Asia/Pacific region, the member countries are becoming accustomed to the system of taking turns to host the Regional Secretariat in Asia/Pacific Representative Meeting. In future, we plan to make the Representative Meeting even more meaningful and innovative, and will try to increase attendance by RS A/P member countries as well as by the members of the Deaf association of the host country.

Ever since the International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981, followed by the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, and succeeding Asia Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, the concept of full participation and equality for disabled persons has been spreading in society. The Deaf must also ensure that their rights, qualifications, and dignity are protected by legislature, social rules, and administration in order to be able to gain a full recovery of human rights.

The World Federation of the Deaf, which holds the Asia/Pacific Representative Meeting, also conducts activities to regain the human rights and dignity of the Deaf. The Regional Secretariat in Asia/Pacific feels the need to clarify the most strategic aims for action such as the improvement of the educational environment for Deaf children, the training of Sign Language interpreters to guarantee information, and establishment of associations of the Deaf.

I hope that the youth participating in the Deaf Youth Camp will achieve many fruitful results from the meeting and thereby contribute to the improvement of the activities of the local Deaf community as well.

At present, the Deaf Association of New Zealand is working hard to make the Asian-Pacific Deaf Youth Camp a big success. I realize that New Zealand is located far from many Asian countries, but I look forward to participation by many countries.

Takeo Ogura

Director

World Federation of the Deaf

Regional Secretariat in Asia/Pacific

Welcome Message from Tony Walton

As President of the Deaf Association of New Zealand I would like to welcome all participants to the 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth Camp 2002. This is the first occasion on which New Zealand has hosted an Asia-Pacific event and like good hosts we want all our visitors to enjoy everything our country has to offer.

During this week the participants will have the opportunity to develop strong friendships and exchange ideas on the future of our Deaf communities. I envisage that this will create a strong bond between participants to help our Asia/Pacific Deaf communities to become equal participants in other Deaf international events.

Changes in the education field and new technological developments all pose challenges to our future as a Deaf community. In the future we can expect to see many changes to Deaf communities, some will be welcomed improvements and others will be challenges we must overcome. I hope this event will provide you an opportunity to develop leadership skills and form relationships to help you in the positive growth of the Deaf communities and for the challenges that the Deaf youth of today will encounter.

I know that you will all have a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Tony Walton CNZM