240 Australian high school students and 24 educators will undertake a remarkable experience in Japanese cultural immersion this December. Thanks to the JENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) Program, these lucky Australians will travel to Japan on full scholarships for 2 weeks to embark on a new beginning for Asia-Pacific relations, establishing friendships with hundreds of participants from all over the Asia-Pacific region. Amongst those chosen is 15 year old Redlynch local, Teresa Fields.
Teresa, currently a Year 10 student at St Andrews Catholic College, is involved in various community activities in her local area, including helping out at the local aged care hostel, assisting in working bees, and up until recently, participating in the Girl Guides. Despite having already travelled to Japan on vacation in the past, she is looking forward to the unique experiences and opportunities this scholarship will offer her. "I would love to have the opportunity to spend time with a Japanese family and learn the real Japanese culture... I hope to find value in the program by getting a sense of the culture, making lots of new friends, learning more day-to-day Japanese and just having a good time!"
During the East-Asia Summit held in the Philippines in January 2007, the Japanese government announced the creation of the JENESYS Program. Over the next 5 years, 6000 students from the Asia-Pacific region will be given the opportunity to visit Japan for 2 weeks through a cultural exchange program. Their goal is to create a "strong solidarity amongst Asian countries" by promoting mutual understanding through youth exchange within the region.
Students on the JENESYS Program will be exposed to the realities of the Japanese political and economic systems, and have social and cultural interaction with Japanese citizens, including spending some time living with a Japanese host family and attending the local school. This will provide an excellent opportunity for students not just to experience the Japanese way of life, but also to understand it.
AFS Intercultural Programs is one of the worlds largest not-for-profit organisations and is proud to be the Australian organiser of the JENESYS Program. Students selected for the inaugural trip this month come from all over Australia, from a variety of schools, and a variety of backgrounds.
This five-year project will see AFS Australia working with over one hundred schools and organisations, sending more than one thousand Australians to experience Japan.
For more details on AFS programs, please contact 1300 131 736 or visit AFS online at www.afs.org.au
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Communities) 2007.
