Thursday, January 15, 2009

Representatives of the Ship for World Youth (SWY) Program Pay Courtesy Call on the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Taro Aso received a courtesy call from youths of Japan and 12 other nations all around the world representing participants in the 21st Ship for World Youth (SWY) program at the Prime Minister's Office.

The SWY program is one of the international youth exchange programs of the Government of Japan. It aims to make an international contribution in a recognizable manner from the perspective of human resource development by providing youth from countries around the world with occasions to build human networks and promote collaborative works. The participants will engage in various concrete and practical experiences as they spend time together on board the SWY, an epitome of the international community with cultural and ideological diversities.

A total of approximately 250 participants from Japan and 12 other nations are participating in this year's program -- the Republic of Yemen, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Republic of Vanuatu, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Tonga, the Republic of Peru, the Kingdom of Norway, New Zealand, the Republic of Mauritius, the Republic of the Fiji Islands, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Canada. Together, they will engage in exchange activities on board and at countries of destination ports, namely the Republic of Vanuatu, the Kingdom of Tonga, and New Zealand, during the 40-day voyage which runs from late January to the beginning of March.

After shaking hands with each representative, Prime Minister Aso delivered an address and gave words of encouragement to them.