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Asako, briefing participants and the press on the programme

Bahraini delegation set to board ‘Ship for World Youth’

MANAMA, January 12, 2015

Ten Bahrainis will embark on a 20-day adventure around the world as part of an annual international exchange programme organised by the Japanese government.

The delegation will represent Bahrain on the 27th Global Youth Leaders Development Programme, also known as the Ship for World Youth, which aims to promote mutual understanding between Japanese and foreign youths and revive the spirit of international co-operation, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The programme, which was introduced in Bahrain in 1998, brings together more than 100 youths from Japan and another 100 from other countries.

Participants start their journey on January 21 by visiting Japanese political, educational and business institutions to gain an insight into the country's culture.

They then spend days at sea discussing issues from a global perspective, taking part in seminars, discussion groups and presentations.

The ship will stop at Naha, on Japan's southern island of Okinawa, as well as Miyagi Prefecture in the northwest of Japan, which was struck by a tsunami in 2011, before visiting other countries.

"The programme gives youth the opportunity to go to Japan and meet people from the government to get an image of the Japanese culture and also help them deal with the cultural differences," Japanese Ambassador Kiyoshi Asako told a Press conference at the embassy, in Adliya, yesterday.

"This year we invited delegations from Bahrain, Brazil, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Oman, Peru, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the UK and Japan.

"They will first get to meet officials from the Japanese government and develop their understanding of international leadership.

"Then they will board a ship which will carry them from Naha in the south to Miyagi Prefecture to see how the tsunami destroyed it and how some parts also recovered.

"Participants will leave Japan on February 13 and will be sent to several countries from February 14 to February 20.

"As part of the programme, 17 youths will arrive in Bahrain on February 26 to visit several destinations and accumulate good experience."

Asako said the scheme started in 1967 as the Japanese Youth Goodwill Cruise Programme, which was exclusively for Japanese participants.

It was expanded in 1988 to include delegations from other countries.

"In those days Japan was not as rich as it is now and the government thought of it as a good programme for the youth to know what was outside their country's borders," he said.

"Over the years the ship became a platform through which youth from across the world can meet and exchange experiences.

"The idea of travelling on a ship is also one of the good things from my point view because it obliges participants to face one another and not run away from any confrontations."

Bahrain delegation leader Jihad Falah Albinfalah, who has been part of the programme since 1998, described it as a life-changing experience.

"I was a member in the first Bahrain delegation in 1998 and at that time the idea wasn't as clear as it is now," he said.

"However, it was a life changer because the experience you get throughout the journey is huge and this makes it one of the best global exchange programmes.

"Delegates were able to make many Japanese friends during the tours.

"During my last visit I met some Japanese participants who have been to Bahrain and it seemed to me that they have developed a very good relationship with the country."

Albinfalah said participants had to sit tests to prove they were qualified to represent Bahrain and would be selected based upon their language and communication skills.

"A university degree is required, but our main criteria is their character and communication skills, as well as their language," he said.

"They are representing Bahrain and they have to be able to make good relationships with everyone they meet during their journey.

"There is no specific age to participate, but it is usually between 20 and 30 years and of course they must be Bahrainis."

The nine other Bahrainis participating in the programme are Faisal Al Hayki, Ahmed Al Khateeb, Mohamed Al Khayyat, Khalid Al Abbasi, Noor Buhusayen, Reem Buqis, Haifa Hadi, Reem Al Qahtani and Nadia Eqab. - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Bahrain | youth | ship | exchange | programme |

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