APNG The 8th Asia Pacific Next Generation Camp – S’Pore
18-20 July, 2006 at the National University of Singapore

Post Camp Report – By J.A.Amaraweera –Sri Lanka

Introduction
My good friend Mune’ (Madura Kumara Munasinghe) came to me on the phone one evening – two weeks prior to our take off to S’Pore – asked me “Amare’ shall we go to APNG ?” I became speculate, just thinking where are we heading. Then I asked him to send an email attaching all the A-Z about APNG. He sent me the URL. With a stroke of a key, Monitor displayed the APNG Home page in front of me. I became a novice to the APNG just after my e-registration accepted. It is indeed a group of next generation except three old folks; Tommy-San , Lee and me. When I met all the members at the opening reception at YMCA on the 17th night I understood APNG is actually a synonym for Younger generation. The Camp is a very remarkable milestone of my life I may note here. I gathered a lot of novel information about new innovative ideas and strategies. Sharing of new know-how and experiences of participants as well as experts induced a momentum in our hearts.

Expectaions
As a Developing Country, we have a lot of challenges ahead. In order to keep the pace with the rest of the World we have to achieve speedy development of the infrastructures especially in the areas like communication, networking and transportation. Knowledge that could be gathered from the Camp would necessarily be catered for the upsurge of technology. As a practicing University Librarian and a visiting lecturer, my intention is to find ways and means to narrow the existing Digital Divide in the country. During the past decade several working models have been introduced to minimize the gap but it has not resolved as expected. E-learning and Distant learning have been considered as a typical solution to the poor intake of candidate who were qualified for university admission. Hence, the knowledge gathered from the expert discussions at the Camp regarding this matter could be put into practice in this venture, I presume. Designing a cost-effective Networking model for University libraries in Sri Lanka is one of my concerns.

Our gains
The very first day, 17th night what we understood was the energy and enthusiasm hidden in young blood (young folks gathered from AP counties) and the dedication of the “Grandpa, Tommy-san, and Grandma (pardon me she is not old) Lee’s towards the APNG. From the keynote addresses and guest lectures, we learnt immensely. I could especially mention Kilnam Chon’s keynote speech on Digital Archive, Lucifer Chu’s : OOPS, Confucious' Opencourse, Tommy Matsumoto’s Project and presentation on DARAK: First Online Indie Animation by Goo Dong Eon. Presentations by Fellows, viz. Sagarika, Joan, Higiri ,Kanal and Kondo were very informative and contributed a lot for the knowledge of the younger group and to a grey-haired guy like me.

All the group discussions and work sessions were very useful not merely to exchange experiences but to identify innovative capabilities of the young members.

Special Credits
Tommy-san and Lee, Tsering can be named as the live pillars of the 8th Camp. Without their untiring efforts and devotion the 8th Camp would not have come off he ground, I must add. All the sponsors have done their part successfully. All the arrangements, accommodation, venue, food & refreshments, social events were up to the mark.

Some points to note
We felt that it would have added more value if there have been some arrangements to record the sessions. If the participants were provided with the handouts and abstracts of papers and keynote speeches would have been definitely useful to the participants at the Camp. Duration of the Camp was not enough.

• Duration of the Camp should increase
• Invite more members and participants to the 9th Camp
• Exhibition of ICT innovations and Industrial products concurrently with the next camp
• More social gatherings and visits
• More collaborative events with other partners
• Add more fellows to the list

Acknowledgements
First of all, I must thank the Camp President, Secretary and the Organising Committee for giving me this opportunity to partake the 8th Camp. Also, my special thanks are due to my good friend Madura Kumara (Mune) for keeping me informed about the camp and all the encouragements given to me in this matter. My fellow LkiNG group members are also mentioned here with due thanks. My sincere thanks are due to all the friends came from different destines who tried their level best to keep us in a happy and jolly mood.

Before concluding, I must thank the Grandpa of APNG Tommy-San and Lee for their untiring efforts rendered to make the event lively and a total success, and also looking after us as their own eyes.

Hope to meet you all in China in 2007.
Wish you all the best!!!

By: Jayatunaga Amaraweera
Sri Lanka