The following is an edited transcript of a conversation between Greg Evans, Director of the newly-formed SeedsAsia, and Marcus Marsden, TWP Director of Research and Marketing.

Marcus : So what is SeedsAsia and how did it come into being ?

Greg : SeedsAsia is a joint venture between my original company, SEEDS Training and TWP. The idea is to extend the reach of my youth-based consultancy to Asia and it came about due to prior relationships between myself and some of the TWP team: in particular, Mark Hemstedt and Ken Ito

Marcus : So what services will SeedsAsia offer ?

Greg : SeedsAsia is a youth-based training company and consultancy offering youth programs, teacher development and educational services. SEEDS is the No.1 youth training organization in the world and SeedsAsia is a natural extension for us. We have trained in excess of 1 million students so far !

Marcus : So what is the history of your company ?

Greg : Seeds was formed in 1993 in San Diego, USA and was substantially relaunched in its current format in 1997. Today we have 70 trainers whom we employ on a contract basis all over the USA. Our clients include The USA Dept of Education (with whom we have a massive program aimed at reaching 1.5 million children starting in Jan 08), as well as Price Waterhouse Coopers and Booz Allen Hamilton.

Marcus : Do you have any experience working in Asia ?

Greg : Absolutely. We have worked with BP in China on a major Environmental program, with Singapore Airlines on a major Customer Service project as well as other clients such as The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Cathay Pacific and the Asian Young President’s Organisation (YPO)

Marcus : So it sounds like you do work with major corporations too ?

Greg : That is correct. Very often a company will want to sponsor a program for the children or education system in their community and we can arrange and manage the event for them. Very often, the company likes our approach so much that they hire us to develop their own trainers !

Marcus : Do you offer other programs directly for children and teenagers ?

Greg : Very much so. One of our founding beliefs is the importance of ‘life-long’ learning. We offer trainings for children aged 9 upwards. We currently offer a range of trainings called “Power One / Power Two / Power Three / Power Four” in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. One of the trainers is Gordon Sutton, who many of your graduates will know as their Basic Trainer ! We are also in the process of redesigning the Teenage Training” which is currently offered in Malaysia and Indonesia. The redesigned training will be offered first in KL this year and then in Hong Kong early in 2008.

Marcus : What kind of material do you offer ?

Greg : You would recognize some similar themes between our work and the Basic Training, but obviously we have adapted it to meet the needs of younger people. It is all very experiential in nature and the kids have great fun while they learn. We use Accelerated Learning as our foundation methodology.

Marcus : So many people come out of the Basic Training and say “I wish I had done this when I was younger !! You are meeting that need !

Greg : Exactly ! We believe that we are helping kids and teenagers develop effective habits and behaviours at an earlier stage.

Marcus : And how did you get into this line of business yourself ?

Greg : Well ironically, I got into youth training by pretending to be sick one day in order to avoid going to school !! I saw a TV show talking about “Camps for Kids” …I enrolled and I was hooked ! I later found out that my family comes from a long line of teachers and social activists who all believed in the power of education and the importance of making it available to everyone. That still drives me today and it is why I am here talking to you now.

Marcus : Is there anything else you would like to say to our graduates ?

Greg : Yes. First of all – if any of the graduates have contacts with corporations who may be interested in running Community / Education / Youth-based programs then please contact me direct at greg@seedsasiatraining.com or in the KL office.

Secondly, watch out for the new Youth-based trainings coming to your city soon ! Again, contact me direct for details OR speak to your local city manager.

Marcus : Thank you.

More information can be found at:

www.seedsasiatraining.com