Youth delegates kick off Education Ministers Meeting in rural Malacca

Young people from across the Commonwealth arrived in rural Malacca yesterday for the start of their ‘Homestay’ visit, where they will spend three days with a local family learning about traditional Malaysian culture.

The Homestay programme is an opportunity for youth delegates attending the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers to interact with a foster family in a traditional village, or ‘kampung’ prior to the main meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

Over the next few days, they will learn how to prepare traditional food, participate in traditional Malaysian games, and observe local craftspeople at work. At the same time, they will be sharing meals and joining in with the daily activities of their host family.

The objective of the Homestay visit is to allow participants to gain an understanding and respect for the diverse backgrounds and cultures that exist in the Commonwealth. During the week, they will have the opportunity to reflect on their encounters and share with each other what they had learned.

The kampung experience is already well-established in Malaysia, with around 1,200 families participating as part of an official tourism programme.

Commonwealth youth from the Pacific region, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe met with young people from Malaysia and were introduced to their host families during a ceremony which included local dance and music performances.

Secretariat Links:

• Youth
• Country Profile: Malaysia