Cash for contacts

Two young women from this province are heading to Malaysia and China on a trade and development mission this summer - if they can find the money.

The two members of Global Vision's Junior Team Canada say it has been really difficult to fundraise for the money needed for the trip.

Jillian Stoyles, 27 - who completed a similar mission in 2001 and has been active in the organization ever since - said it has never been this hard.

"This is the first year we've had this much difficulty," she said.

They are approaching companies interested in Asian sales opportunities such as seafood harvesters.

The purpose of the mission is to facilitate trade between local companies and the Chinese and Malaysian markets.

"It's a great program," Stoyles said.

Companies that sponsor Alicia Anderson, 22, of Carbonear and Stoyles of St. John's get a return on their investment by having people on the ground to network, gather contacts, conduct market research and, hopefully, facilitate trade deals.

Anderson explains that face-to-face contact is very important in the Asian business climate.

"It's very significant, the relationship component of business deals," Stoyles added.

Global Vision's Junior Team Canada has been a part of millions of dollars in deals for Canadian Companies.

About 40 Junior Team Canada delegates are participating in the mission, which is happening Aug. 2 to 20.

Anderson got involved with the Global Vision in March.

She has a degree in international business from Memorial University.

The organization promotes leadership among youth and understanding of the changing "global workplace."

"Especially as a recent graduate, it's been extremely useful," Anderson said.

On the road

Anderson, Stoyles and 16-year-old Lauren Duffy of Corner Brook have just returned from a trip to the G8 and G20 summits in Ontario.

An official international youth G8 summit was held alongside the leaders' meetings where youth debated the same issues being considered in Muskoka, Ont.

Stoyles was a team leader for the summits.

The youth delegations developed their own communiquÉ addressing maternal health, food security, nuclear nonproliferation and climate change.

Anderson was on the team that negotiated and developed the part on maternal health. It focused on sex education.

"I think what we came up with was representative of the group as a whole and not just Canada's views," Anderson said.

In fact, most of the communiquÉ prepared was similar to what the leaders came up with.

The document was forwarded to G8 leaders and Governor-General MichaËlle Jean.

The G20 youth summit was held onsite at the Metro Toronto Conference Centre. Delegates got to observe parts of the official summit and hear from guest speakers.

"It was a pretty cool experience," said Anderson.

After the final news conference, Prime Minister Stephen Harper stopped by to greet the Canadian youth delegation and get a photo.

kbreen@thetelegram.com