IATSS Forum

Sabaidee.Greeting from Lao P.D.R to all 53rd IATSS Forum participants, hard-working coordinators and all readers out there. My name is Valy PHOMMACHAK, though you might want to call me by my shorter name which is ‘Jinny’. I am honored, very thankful and yet surprised to have been chosen as one of the IATSS Forum participants. By being a part of this program, I expect to obtain various kinds of knowledge and skills by “Thinking and Learning together” with the talented young leaders of ASEAN countries and Japan. Apart from numbers of lectures and workshops, I also believe that I will be inspired by meeting the young leaders. Their perspectives would also expand my points of views toward goals in life, learning, and the world’s issues. Furthermore, I cannot wait to experience Japan, the country where I have always had in mind as a role model of a well-designed urban and sustainable developed country. As I can remember, I first saw an application calling poster of the IATSS Forum when I was a student. At that time, I was told that the program is too tough for me, since it is for people who are ‘young leaders’. I kept staring at the poster and thought to myself that it may be true, but still, I wanted to give it a try. Never thought that, 5 years later, my name would be on the list and now I am counting down to attend the most knowledgeable and meaningful experience providing program I have ever known. This makes me believe in a power of dedication and belief.

Here comes again the time that I have to write a message about IATSS Forum. But this time, it even brought a happy smile on my face as I was thinking back to my memories as a participant of 53rd IATSS Forum, a life time experience that will never fed away from my mind. IATSS Forum was like a school. This little school gave us priceless opportunities to grow together with our classmates and the staffs, who later have become our family members.  My goal was fulfilled as I have learned a lot about the “Sustainable Community Design” which is my interest. However, I did not expected to have gained this much experience regarding leadership skills and team’s spirit. Apart from academic lectures and group discussions, we have spontaneously growth together through team building activities, the times we spent together, and through every laugh and smile. Among the diversity, we have learned to set a common goal and pave the way to achieve it together by maximizing each other’s strength. There are two main key-learnings that I have picked from all the “good leader” lesson. No matter what kind of leader I am going to be in the future, I will keep in mind that “everyone can be a leader” and “In a team, no one is left behind”. I am so proud to be a part of this big family  Arigatougozaimasu.