YOUTH AMBASSADORS READY FOR DEPARTURE CANBERRA, Australia, 10 February, 1999/MediaNet International-AsiaNet/ "Iam delighted to announce that I will farewell Australia's first batch ofAustralian Youth Ambassadors for Development at a breakfast in Sydneytomorrow," the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Alexander Downer, said today. "Up to 80 young Australians will depart our shores over the next six monthsto take up assignments in developing countries of the Asia Pacific under theAustralian Youth Ambassadors for Development program. "The group of skilled young Australians, aged 18-30, includes environmentalengineers and scientists, nurses and lawyers, teachers and informationtechnology graduates, journalists and urban planners, foresters and marketingmanagers. "These outstanding young people were selected from a field of almost 700applicants and are currently completing cross-cultural and language training. They will work on short term projects of three to 12 months in Nepal, China,Vietnam, the Philippines, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. "This program provides young Australians with an invaluable opportunity tobroaden their experience and increase their understanding of the developmentneeds and cultural diversity of our neighbours. These young Australians alsohave a lot of skills and knowledge to transfer." The program will send up to 500 young Australians to work in developingcountries in the Asia Pacific over the next two years. Media contacts: Innes Willox ( Minister's Office) +612 6277 7500 Katrina Peach (Youth Ambassadors Program) +612 6248 0430