The Ship for World Youth

The Ship for World Youth

Alumni Association - Venezuela

1989 - 2004

Welcome to the Homepage of the SWYAA - Venezuela. The purpose of this Homepage is to strengthen the SWY Network around the world. This page is always under construction.

The Ship for World Youth Program

To foster the spirit of international cooperation and understanding between the nations, promote friendship between the youths of Japan and youths of other countries invited. Participants are required to contribute to cultural exchange activities on board the ship and during shore visits, and to contribute to study and discussion of subjects of common interest from a global viewpoint.

The Ship for World Youth started in 1989 as an initiative of the Office of the Director General for Policy Planning and Coordination (former Management and Coordination Agency (MCA)) within the Government of Japan. It is an international exchange program held once a year. The program starts in Japan, but most of the activities take place on board a ship sailing around the world, bringing together between 270 and 300 young people from countries all around the world. Until 1999, The Ship for World Youth Program was divided in two bounds, West (countries from Oceania, North and Latin America) and East (countries from Asia, Africa and Europe). In 1999 the SWY program took another step forward, and mixed delegations from both sides of the world.

Over two months, the delegates participate in numerous activities including seminars, discussions of global matters, cultural exchange activities, research, lectures from international speakers, exchanges with other delegates, parties, brotherhood, etc. The National Leaders and sometimes the Assistant National Leader are invited to courtesy calls for Presidents and Prime Ministers of hosting countries.

Before the program starts formally, the participants spend more than a week in Japan, visiting historical places, having meetings with important figures such as the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Japan, participate in a homestay with Japanese families and have the first encounters with the participant youths from other countries.

After the program, each country has the responsibility of keeping the ideals and objectives shared during the program, strenghten mutual understanding and global communication. In order to accomplish this task, all the ex-participants are part of an Alumni Association. This Homepage is the face of the SWY Alumni Association - Venezuela. The specific funtions of the SWYAAs depend on their organization, number of members, funds, etc. The main objective of each association is to keep track of all the ex-participants of it's country, keep the information upgraded and available to the government of Japan, the SWYAA Japan (known as IYEO, International Exchange Organization of Japan) and all other SWYAAs all over the world. Some SWYAAs are in charge of the selection process for new participants, while in other countries this task is done by Japanese Organizations, Government Institutions or the Japan´s Embassy of the country invited.

The Ship for World Youth Program in Venezuela

The Republic of Venezuela (north of South America) has been invited to the SWY Program every 2 years since it started in 1989. As a country from Latin America, we share our multicultural background with all the participants. We are very proud to be part the SWY Family.

The main activity held by the members of the SWYAAV is to keep all the EXPYs information upgraded and available. Also, to prepare the new participants before they go to the journey. Even though Venezuela has around 100 Ex-participants, the active members of the SWYAAV are much less. One of the main reasons is that a considerable number of EXPYs are living outside the country, studying or working in multiple conpanies and organizations.

Today, the SWYAAV is invited by Japan's Embassy to the selection process for new participants. One objective and goal of the SWYAAV in the near future is to actively participate on the selection process and other issues regarding the SWY Program. However, depending on the number of participants, the process in restricted to government officers and students of the Japanese course sponsored by Japanese Organizations, or in some opportunities includes a public selection process.

The selection process for the SWY13, that took place in September 2000, was a closed one. Three of the 9 participants were selected from the government (Including the National Leader), and the rest were sponsored by their Japanese teachers. The final selection was made by the Embassy of Japan.However, the SWY15 selection process involved the SWY Alumni Association as part of the selection jury.

The main qualifications for the National Leader and participating youths are as follows:

Note: In many countries previous participants of the SWY program are able to apply for the position of National Leader. In the specific situation of Venezuela, the National Leader is chosen by the embassy from the government, together with 2 more participants.

Click in the following links to go to a specific batch homepage:

The SWYAAV parties and reunions!

Follow the Link to the SWYAA Main Homepage to find more information, other SWYAAs all around the world and much more.

To know more about Japan's Culture, News, Politics, Technology, and much more, please click on:

To see many interesting things from one of our host families in Japan, just click here

The following links will show you more about the SWY Program, The Venezuelan Culture, The SWY11 Pictures, etc.