SWY20 United States Delegation, 2008.

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Prospective Delegates

The Ship for World Youth (SWY), also referred to as the Global Youth Leaders Development Program, is a unique international cultural exchange program graciously organized and fully funded by the Japanese government. One of the most prestigious programs of its kind, SWY brings together over 250 youth from around the world to learn about international cooperation and understanding.  Over a two-month period, participants are involved in a wide range of activities aimed at fostering cultural sensitivity and appreciation and generating lasting friendships between countries.  Most of the program is conducted on board the cruise liner, Nippon Maru, with some activities scheduled in Japan and several Ports of Call that are visited during the program.  

So, are you on board?  If so, read below and explore the drop-down menus above to learn more about the program and its process!  Also, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter to find you when your next voyage will be!

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How Does The Ship For World Youth (SWY) Program Work?

The Japanese government plans, organizes, implements, and finances the Ship for World Youth, and each year, different countries are invited to send delegations to participate.  Here's where you come in.  When the United States is invited to participate, the US State Department and the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. entrust the Ship for World Youth USA Alumni Association with recruiting, selecting, and training a new delegation of 10 participants to act as ambassadors on behalf of our country.  Just imagine, this could be you!  Official invitations are typically released in early summer, and the deadline for delegate and national leader applications is in the late summer.  If you are selected to represent the United States as a delegate, you will be notified of your selection in early October so that you may start getting to know your fellow delegates and begin preparing for your departure in January.
 
The program commences with the arrival of all overseas participants in Japan.  You will first spend a few days in Tokyo for orientation, making several institutional visits based on the course of interested you selected prior to departure and exploring some of the culturally significant parts of the city.  You will then spend 1-2 days in a home stay experience with a Japanese family in another prefecture or province of Japan.  This is your chance to experience Japanese life firsthand and enjoy sharing your own experiences and culture from life in the US with your host family.  This rich opportunity is one of the highlights of the program, and many participants establish deep connections with their host families and maintain contact long after their participation in the program.  Following the site visits and homestay in Japan, all participants will board the Nippon Maru cruise liner to be whisked away to destinations across the globe, where you will receive education and experiences that will change your life forever!

Which Countries Will Participate 
and Where Will We Travel?

The Government of Japan will select 11 to 15 countries to participate in the program each year, and a few of these countries will additionally be selected as Ports-of-Call to visit during the program.   There is always a unique variety of cultures and languages represented on the Ship with 9-15 delegation members from each non-Japanese country invited and 120-140 Japanese delegation participants.  Each participating country selects its own delegation, which includes a National Leader to serve as a mentor to the other members and represent the delegation at meetings with program officials and Heads of State.  

The Government of Japan changes the program Port-of-Call destinations each year and releases information regarding the new destinations just a a few months before the program starts.  This is part of the excitement as you eagerly wait to find out the full scale of the adventure that awaits you!  The only destination that remains the same, of course, will be your first meeting point in Japan.  Typically, the program stops in two to four countries during each program, not including the Japan or refueling stops.

At each port, a cultural exchange takes place, usually with a welcome from the host country, which is reciprocated by the delegations. Participants visit significant places such as schools, museums, art houses, and cultural centers. In recent sailings, port of call schedules have been organized around the course discussion each participant attends. For instance, an educational course discussion participant may be visiting elementary schools, universities, and similar institutions, while an environmental policy course might be visiting preserves and local protection agencies.  The schedule is usually established by the Japanese Government in cooperation with the port-of-call organizing committee. Local organizations often arrange an interactive event with local youth such as a sporting event, and even though there may be some free time, institutional visits and other scheduled activities are considered the main focus of the Ports-of-Call.

What Does The Program Cost?

The Ship for World Youth Program is organized and implemented by the Management and Coordination Agency of the Japanese Government in conjunction with the Cabinet Office.  

The Government of Japan very generously covers the cost of program participation, which includes the following:
     *Round trip flight to and from the international airport nearest to your  
       location in the U.S.
     *Admission and activity fees for everything organized for the program.
     *Meals on board the Nippon Maru, ports-of-call, and most meals in Japan.
     *All accommodations (hotels, home-stay in Japan, and aboard the ship)

Please be aware that even though most of the program is covered by the Japanese government, U.S. participants do incur some expenses during participation, namely:
     *A delegation is expected to raise funds or pay dues of at least $350 total 
       (depending on what the delegation decides to provide) before departure 
       in order to pay for gifts to Japanese officials, port-of-call officials, 
      and other delegations; to pay for national costumes (usually 
      matching business attire), and to pay for other delegation expenses 
      you will occur when planning the National Party and National 
      Presentation.
     *Participants are expected to provide their own medical/travel insurance as
       required by U.S. law.
     *Participants may wish to bring additional funds for souvenirs, snacks, 
       and one or two private meals over the duration of the program.

What Will I Get From The Program?

Want to meet people from around the world that will become your future friends, colleagues, and business partners?  Do you love sharing your culture and learning about others?  Want to tackle some of the world's problems head-on by engaging in diplomacy and volunteerism?  No matter the reason for your participation in SWY, you will find your desired outcome through the creation of a diverse network of peers striving together with you to reach worthy personal and professional goals while contributing to world peace.  The SWY Program provides you the opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and challenge the lens with which you view the world and your place in it.  You will expand your worldview as you experience other places and cultures and learn communication skills and strategies that will help you overcome differences and misunderstandings in diverse social environments.  Not to mention, you will be participating in a once-in-a-lifetime experience as a prestigious representative of your country.  So, now it's time to ask: what will YOU bring to SWY? 

Click the tab to check out the application process and tell us why you belong on the Ship for World Youth!

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Sample Itinerary
SWY20 Program, 2008

1/15/2008: US and non-Japanese delegations arrive in Tokyo
1/16/08: Orientation, tour of Tokyo, welcome reception
1/17/08: Organizational visits in Tokyo
1/18/08: Japanese homestay in other prefectures
1/19/08: Homestay experience continued
1/20/08: Return to Tokyo for pre-departure training
1/21/08: Pre-departure training
1/22/08: Pre-departure training
1/23/08: Pre-departure training, United Nations University seminar, embarkation on Nippon Maru
1/24/08: Departure ceremony from Yokohama
2/01/08: Refueling stop and free-time in Singapore (not official port of call)
2/11/08: Arrival in Muscat, Oman for official port of call
2/13/08: Departure from Muscat, Oman
2/19/08: Arrival in Chennai, India for official port of call
2/22/08: Departure from Chennai, India
2/26/08: Refueling stop and free-time in Singapore (not official port of call)
3/05/08: Arrival in Tokyo, Japan for return flight home

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Bala Mandir: Home and School for Children, India

Elementary school Education Course site visit, Higashi Rokubancyo Primary School, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture

All participants of SWY20, 2008