The first batch of delegates of the Short-Term Invitation Program
under the Kizuna Project
JICC Researcher / Adviser Mr. Shinichiro Kato, with National Youth Commission (NYC) officials, and supervisors of the batch one of the Kizuna Project Short-Term Invitation Program
The first batch of delegates of the Kizuna Project during their preparation for their trip to Japan
The first batch of Filipino delegates of the Short-Term Invitation Program under the Youth-Exchange Project with Asia-Oceania and North America, or the KIZUNA Project left for Japan on December 10, 2012. 46 university students accompanied by 4 supervisors will be staying in Japan from December 10 – 19, to allow the participants to experience first-hand the recovery initiatives at disaster areas caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake last March 2011, and to promote better understanding on the reconstruction in Japan . Aside from this, the students will also participate in lectures and workshops about the reconstruction efforts and disaster risk management of Japan . Participants will also have a chance to engage in homestay with local Japanese families.
The KIZUNA Program is coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Japan through the cooperation of the Japan Information and culture Center (JICC) of the Embassy of Japan, and the National Youth Commission (NYC) of the Philippines . Under the Short-Term Invitation Program, 207 university students ages 18- 24 years old, along with 16 supervisors, will be invited for a 2-week immersion to Japan . The second and third batches will be dispatched in March 2013.
The Kizuna Program aims to encourage participants to communicate to other countries that Japan is on its way to recovery. Through their experiences, the participants will be able to provide accurate and first-hand information to the global community not only about the recovery of Japan , but also of the many attractions in various parts of Japan .
The Kizuna Project, the word kizuna meaning “bonds”, will invite more than 10,000 youths from the Asian/Oceanian regions, including 285 Filipinos, to have an opportunity to participate in specially designed programs. The project was approved by the Japanese Diet as a part of the third supplementary budget in November 2011, and will be implemented by the end of March 2013.
