On April 16, 2012 (Monday), the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) of the Embassy of Japan, organized a Pre-Departure Orientation for the 2 nd Batch of Philippine-Tohoku Goodwill Ambassadors under the Japan East-Asia Network for Students and Youths (JENESYS) Programme participants, scheduled to depart for Japan on April 17 (Tuesday), and will return to the Philippines on April 25 (Wednesday). Ambassador Toshinao Urabe graced the pre-departure orientation to deliver an inspiring speech for the 100 Philippine-Tohoku Goodwill Ambassadors.
The Philippine-Tohoku Goodwill Ambassadors are expected to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, as well as visit Kesennuma City in Tohoku region and learn from Japan's recovery efforts, disaster risk management and the concept of a “greener environment”. The said programme was agreed upon in a joint statement by both the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines on September 27, 2011, with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda stating that Japan will invite 400 Filipino college students to Japan this year as “Philippine-Tohoku Goodwill Ambassadors.”
The pre-departure orientation intends to equip the 100 Philippine-Tohoku Goodwill Ambassadors with basic knowledge about Japan, in order to facilitate a smoother transition for their nine-day stay there. For the duration of the programme, participants will personally witness Japan's rapid recovery efforts in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake that struck Japan's Tohoku region on March 11, 2011. They will also interact with their Japanese peers from educational institutions and foster family whom they will be staying with under the homestay scheme. A total of 400 students have been chosen to participate as Philippine-Tohoku Goodwill Ambassadors.
The first batch of 100 Philippine-Tohoku Goodwill Ambassadors already departed for Japan last April 10 (Tuesday). Both the first and second batches are under the theme, JENESYS - “Go Green” , while the last two batches who will depart for Japan on May will be under the theme, JENESYS - “Japan's Disaster Management and Recovery Efforts After 3.11” .
The JENESYS Programme is organized by The Government of Japan through the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) of the Embassy of Japan as well as the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), in close cooperation with the National Youth Commission (NYC) of the Republic of the Philippines. By fostering strong networks among the youths of Japan and the Philippines, the JENESYS Programme endeavors to promote cultural appreciation and mutual understanding between our two countries.
