For the third time in four years, Brazil has been invited to an interexchange program held by the Japanese government. Nine delegates will take part on the newborn Global Leaders Development Program (GLDP) which will replace the Ship For World Youth Program (SWY) in 2014. 

Unlike what happened to other batches, SWYAA Brasil and the Japanese Embassy in Brazil were responsible for the selection of the participants. Most of the new participating youth (PY) study or has studied Japan-related subjects on their graduations and speak Japanese in different levels of comprehension.

GLDP Brazilian delegation is composed by:

Leonardo Kajioka Nardon (National Leader - SWY 18 PY)

Filipe Rocchetti Girardi (Brazilian Ministry of Education employee)
Guilherme Hitoshi Kaneko (State University of Maringá)
Geovana Callasans Veras Pessoa (University of Brasília)
Lázaro Rennan de Sousa Viana (University of Brasília)
Naiara Ferreira Martins (University of Brasília)
Ana Maria Sigas Picchini  (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul)
Patricia Nunes de Assis (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro)
Felipe Lopes Barcelos (University of Brasília)

The other participating countries of GLDP are Bahrain, Fiji, India, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, Tanzania and Turkey. All the delegates will arrive in Japan on January 22 and participate of pre-program and training sessions until February 3. From Febrary 4 to February 12, PY will sail onboard the MS Nippon Maru ship. Participants will organize seminars, prepare a National Presentation and visit the city of Ishinomaki.

After leaving the ship, Japanese PY will visit, from February 13 to February 20,  Bahrein, Fiji, Mexico and Turkey and take part of activities with the local youth and ex-PY of SWY former editions. 

Good luck, guys!

Great news! For the seventh time, Ship For World Youth will have a Brazilian Delegation! In 2012, Fujimaru will travel through the Indian Ocean and the youth from 13 countries will visit India, Sri Lanka and Singapore.

Our noisy, loud and incredible warriors will have the best trip of their lives with delegates from 12 other countries: Bahrein, Canada, Egypt, India, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Venezuela.

The Participating Youth will arrive in Nihon on January 18th; the departure ceremony, at the Yokohama Pier, will be held on January 29th. Almost 40 days later, they will come back to Japan on March, 5th - crying a lot, I suppose. 

Ok, meet the new SWY 24 BPY!

Good luck, guys!

Ottawa, Canada - August 30, 2011 – The Canadian Ship for World Youth Alumni Association (SWYAA Canada) received an extra help this time in organizing the recruitment of its newest delegation for SWY Batch 24. Brazilian Ex-PY Jean Roberth Souza was invited to attend an Information Session on the Program aimed at interested applicants held at the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa on August 18, 2011. Besides, Jean Roberth also participated in the Ottawa regional selection committee and used his past professional experience in SWY Programs to select Canadians PYs this time. 

In Canada, the SWY Selection Process has been done directly by SWYAA Canada with the support of the Japanese Embassy and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT). All Canadian ex-PYs are invited to become volunteers during this time of the year in order to help AA to select a diverse group of talented Canadians who could represent Canada and make a significant contribution to the Program. 

Since last June, SWYAA Canada members have invited Jean Roberth to help promote SWY Program locally in Ottawa, where he has been living since 2008. He was eager to have a chance to use his past experience at the Ministry of Education in Brazil (MEC), where he worked for almost ten years, selecting and preparing young candidates to participate in international youth exchange programs promoted by the Japanese Government such as the Ship for World Youth (SWY), International Youth Village (IYV), Renaissance Programs, and Japanese Goodwill Missions. “It was a pleasure for me to help SWYAA Canada. It made me remember the time when I worked for MEC and had to select participants. Canada has a very opened and transparent system to select PYs and I believe that the selected candidates will be very well prepared for this kind of exchange program”, he adds.

Nearly one year ago, I was in a smelly train, heading to my university, when someone from Brasília called me on my mobile. Could you imagine my surprise when that lady told me that I was selected to travel to Japan? Of course, my first thought was: “ok, that woman is trying to steal my organs, it’s a lie”. But it was not!

We were selected because three years before that phone call, the other delegates and I made the Brazilian High School National Exam; we had very high notes, and because of them, we got a scholarship to study in private universities; after, because of the scholarship and those notes in the exam, government found our names and invited us to visit one of the most wonderful and interesting places in the world.  In addition, we all belong to low income families, so we’ve never travelled abroad before.

Of course, it was hard to make my fathers believe that I got a gift like that. It was hard to leave my job. It was very hard to say goodbye to my mom in the airport. It was hard to find money to survive there (just kidding, money to drink beer)! But, seven months after all, I am sure that I lived the best moments of my life onboard Fujimaru.

Because of SWY, I made the best friends ever, starting with the schizophrenic Brazilians and my beloved National Leader. I learnt with 300 people from 13 countries, dealing with different cultures and personalities, becoming a better person every single second; I’ve been in six different countries (I stayed for 3 hours in France, take that!) in just 50 days; I made unforgettable friends and now I want to save money to visit every single one of them; and finally, I fell in love with a country, and now I am trying to know what those characters mean!

And finally, some words of experience for the new SWYers. You guys can find friends, a love or even a meaning to your life.  Be patient, talk to everyone and never sleep (working and studying like a slave, I am sure you are not used to sleep, so it will be easy for you). Enjoy the opportunity, don't forget the cachaça, and let the SWY spirit touch your heart.

Em todas as delegações que pude preparar para o SWY, eu sempre tive a preocupação de passar valiosas dicas sobre o que você deve levar em sua bagagem como presente para ser ofertado e/ou trocado por outros souvenirs durante o programa.

Veja, abaixo, uma extensa lista que vai lhe ajudar a escolher melhor o que levar de presente.

• Artesanato popular e indígena brasileiro: aproveite para levar artesanatos feitos pelos povos indígenas do Brasil. Há uma infinidade de objetos que podem ser comprados por um bom preço. Esse tipo de presente é muito bem apreciado pelos japoneses e delegações do Canadá, Nova Zelândia, Europa, de países árabes e da Ásia. 

• Bijouterias feitas com sementes da Floresta Amazônica:  esse é um tipo de presente que vai agradar em cheio os japoneses, canadenses, neo-zelandeses, europeus, árabes e hindus. Desaconselhável repassar esse presente para outros países participantes que dividem a Floresta Amazônica (Peru e Venezuela).  

• Bandeiras do Brasil  (uma grande no mínimo e outras pequenas): esse artigo é imprescindível e todos os membros da delegação tem que ter a sua própria.

• Mapas: também são imprescindíveis. Eles vão ajudar os participantes estrangeiros a compreenderem melhor as dimensões do Brasil.

 • Bonés, camisetas e bottons do Brasil, ou do seu Estado, ou da sua cidade: abuse do verde e amarelo. Lembre-se: todos os itens que você levar representando o Brasil vão acabar sendo trocados por outros vindos de diferentes partes do mundo.

• DVD do desenho animado Rio, do documentário sobre Ayrton Senna, qualquer bom filme nacional: você vai poder organizar uma semana de filmes brasileiros no auditório do Navio. Tenha bom senso para levar filmes que não causem nenhuma polêmica, ok? Verifique o código da região do DVD brasileiro para ver se pode ser compatível com o aparelho de DVD do Japão.

• DVDs e CDs de música popular brasileira, carnaval, samba e outros estilos brasileiros: você também vai poder organizar festas brasileiras no lounge do navio e não vão faltar oportunidades de mostrar a riqueza da nossa cultura musical para os outros participantes.
  
• Livros e/ou folhetos turísticos repletos de fotos e imagens do Brasil: o livro poderá ser um presente oficial da delegação brasileira para alguma autoridade japonesa que vai lhe receber, ou mesmo alguma autoridade governamental nas visitas aos outros países. 

• Levar alguma fonte de pesquisa que tenha dados estatísticos sobre o Brasil. Lembre-se, não vai ter Internet no navio e nunca é bom deixar um PY sem resposta! 

• Garrafinhas de vidro com areia colorida dentro mostrando um lugar turístico do Brasil: esse tipo de artesanato típico do Nordeste brasileiro chama muito a atenção dos outros estrangeiros.

• Fitas do Senhor do Bonfim em Salvador: elas causaram furor no programa em que participei. Ainda mais se você ensina aos japoneses o ritual que você deve fazer ao pensar nos seus três desejos e fazer a amarração da fita no braço. 

• Garrafas de aguardente para fazer caipirinha (Festa Nacional): esse item é um pouco controverso por se tratar de bebida alcoólica e talvez não tolerada por delegações muçulmanas. Veja se vai ser correto levar isso com a líder nacional do Brasil. Veja também as restrições com a Alfândega no Japão quanto à entrada de bebidas alcoólicas no país.

• Músicas para o seu iPod com temas de sono e despertar (para as “Wake-Up Calls” do seu grupo no navio): essas canções de ninar ou despertar vão ser muito úteis dentro do navio, pois o seu grupo vai ser desafiado a criar uma chamada matinal cheia de originalidade para acordar todos os participantes bem cedo de manhã.

 • Se eu fosse você, eu não levaria nenhuma camiseta sem graça. Trate de levar somente camisetas que mostrem a bandeira do Brasil, os pontos turísticos da sua cidade e Estado. 

• Camisas da Seleção e de times de futebol: tenho a certeza de que os participantes de países da America do Sul e principalmente dos países árabes vão implorar para você doar essas camisas para eles no fim do programa!

E o mais importante: o que você vai levar de mais valioso em sua bagagem é o seu bom senso e a sua educação! Por isso, lembre-se sempre: você não está embarcando para uma simples viagem de turismo, e sim para uma grande missão! Em todos os momentos, você vai ser visto como o(a) Embaixador(a) do Brasil, ou seja, a sua forma de se expressar e de se comportar perante os outros participantes e diante do grupo vai ser compreendida como a forma comum e natural como um brasileiro agiria.

Além disso, vale informar que as delegações de países estrangeiros que obtem um desempenho destacável ou admirável durante a realização do SWY são aquelas que sempre recebem convites oficiais para voltar a participar do programa com maior frequência. Por outro lado, delegações estrangeiras que trazem problemas e conflitos recebem, por assim dizer, um certo “atraso” no recebimento de um próximo convite.

Sucesso para todos vocês!

Jean Roberth Souza
SWY 07 – 1995
SWYAA Brazil | SWYAA Canada

Networking is the art of connecting individuals and organizations tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, common interests, knowledge or prestige. In this regard, one good hint for ex-PYs who have left their homeland either to study or work overseas is to network with the Cultural Section of the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate in the new country where you are now living. Most of all Japanese embassies around the world promote several cultural activities during the year. These activities gather different local and distinguish audiences who have common ties with Japan. Moreover, this also represents a unique opportunity for networking with diplomats, local ex-PYs, SWYAA members, former participants from JET Program, MEXT Scholarship recipients and alumni, as well as with other important guests who also participate in these events.

If you are living overseas and are interested in this opportunity for networking, the best thing you can do first is to visit the homepage of the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Japan on the Internet. Check if there is a specific page for the Cultural Section on the homepage and see the events promoted locally by the embassy or consulate. Find out the Cultural Section contact data and finally send an email to the Cultural Attaché presenting yourself as ex-PY, informing your SWY Batch, and your interest in keeping contact with the embassy, in order to prestige its cultural activities and also receive its newsletters. Most important: Don’t forget to ask if you can be invited to the future cultural events promoted by the diplomatic mission!

My experience with the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa has been excellent since I moved to Canada in 2008. I have been invited to several social and cultural activities during all the year and I really like to participate in all of them. In most of these events, for example, I have had the honor to be welcomed by the Honorable Mr. Kaoru Ishikawa, Ambassador of Japan to Canada (please see picture), who is doing a great job in keeping the cultural ties between Japan and Canada. His staff at the Cultural Section in Ottawa is very professional and has done an outstanding effort to keep a wide range of different audiences connected to the Embassy through the activities they promote.

O Ministério da Educação (MEC) divulgou hoje os nomes dos 11 jovens que participam do programa ProUni e farão parte da delegação brasileira do SWY23.

A notícia pode ser vista no link a seguir:

http://portal.mec.gov.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16119

Está pronta a primeira edição da SWYAABrasil Newsletter, chamada SWYDADE.

Foi oficializada a informação de que siiiiiim, o Brasil é um dos países participantes do SWY 23, que acontecerá entre os dias 11 de janeiro e 2 de março de 2011. O programa terá ports of call em 2 países (Fiji e Austrália), além de 3 paradas para abastecimento (em Vanuatu, Ilhas Salomão e Naha - Japão).

Os outros países participantes são:

• Austrália
• Barém
• Chile
• Fiji
• Japão
• México
• Micronésia
• Sultanato de Omã
• Ilhas Salomão
• Suécia
• Tanzânia
• Vanuatu

Em breve disponibilizaremos mais informações sobre o programa. Qualquer dúvida, entrem em contato com a nossa associação através do link Contato no menu ao lado.

It was a random day in March 2006. For the 43 days, between January and March 2006, me and 12 other Brazilians had just been exposed to a unique cross-cultural experience: The 18th Ship for World Youth Program. During 43 days, we were living in an alternate universe, with little communication with the outside world, but in deep contact with different cultures, languages, and traditions. Much like we felt at the beginning of the 43-day voyage, most of us didn’t know how we would feel after such a shocking experience.
            The following weeks were filled with nostalgic feelings and a general hope to go back to that alternate reality that surrounded us for about 1 and a half months. International phone calls and emails became a major part of our lives, even though some of us were forced to go back to our usual routine, commuting to the office or school. On one particular day, I found myself talking to a friend in Japan for 5 hours, through Skype, something that had not yet happened in my life. During that conversation, we were both discussing how great it would be to be a part of the SWY Program one more time, perhaps as Advisors or Administration Staff members. The main point of the conversation was something like:
            JPY - “Hey, wouldn’t it be great if we were able to be on board the Nippon Maru again, as staff members for the Program?
            ME – “Yeah, it would be awesome to be able to be a part of SWY once more. Do you think that it is possible?”
            JPY - “Yeah, I think it is possible. But you have to speak perfect Japanese, because I think all the Administration Staff work is conducted in Japanese. So, you have to keep studying Japanese and you have to come to Japan.”
           ME – “Oh, yeah. Like that is going to happen!”
       
            A few months later, motivated by some of my Japanese language teachers, I found myself applying for the Japanese Government’s Researcher scholarship, which I eventually ended up getting. When I realized, I was quitting my job and packing my stuff to go to Japan, for a period of 2 years.
            Even though I knew that I was coming to Japan to study, and possibly enter a master’s degree program, I still saw it as a great opportunity to get back to the SWY life. I knew that I would have some friends living in the same region as me, and I would have some holidays, which would give me a chance to see some of the other Japanese friends who lived in other regions of Japan. All of a sudden, I saw myself joining official IYEO activities, such as the Tokyo Conference for Ex-PYs, and training sessions for the following batches of the SWY Program.
            After a lot of hard work studying the language and learning more about Japanese society, I was given the chance to apply for the position of Course Discussion Facilitator on the SWY21 and SWY22 Administration staff. I knew that I would have to work a lot, and that it probably wouldn’t be the same experience I had as a participant, but I was thrilled to have the chance to contribute and give something back to the program that I had come to love and respect.
    Through the entire program, I realized that being part of the Administration Staff is completely different than being a PY. Being the one that has to control to wills of 200 young people full of energy, requires a lot of peace of mind, because sometimes you will be seen as a dictator, controlling everything and denying them their freedom. However, once we get past the initial barriers and establish a connection with the PYs, and they realize that what we do is something that must be done to ensure everyone’s safety and to ensure a smooth operation of the program, things get more relaxed and performing our duties as ADM staff becomes much easier.  Ultimately, being a PY in SWY is a once in a lifetime experience, but having the opportunity to go back and experience the SWY life one more time gives you the chance to live and see the concrete results of the program, that are not only having fun and meeting new people, but also expanding the horizons of 300 people, forcing those people to coexist in a limited space environment and see how they interact with each other.
    When asked about why I decided to dedicate some of my time and work to the SWY Program, I always have a tough time thinking about a smart answer, but in the end I always go to the cliché answer. “I came back to SWY because I want to help other young people experience the same emotions that I have experienced in the past. I want to see them feel uneasy at first, when they first meet their batchmates. I want to see their friendship grow, through the various activities. I want to see how they solve their conflicts and I want to see how they display the results of what they have learnt during the Program, and I want to see all of them crying when they realize that the Program is over and that from that day on, they will be separated by the thousands of kilometers that separate their countries. Ultimately, I want them to feel just as I felt in the past.