As many as 110 students will leave for Japan next week under the University of the South Pacific’s (USP) JENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) program.
Japan’s ambassador to Fiji, Kawakami Fumihiro said since the inaugural Kizuna Program in 2012, with USP as the implementing partner, Japan has continuously funded the program.
Mr Fumihiro said so far, more than 1900 youths from 14 Pacific Island Countries have benefitted from the program.
“The active youth exchange between Japan and the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) is the solid foundation of the special bond, called kizuna in Japanese and the primary focus of the JENESYS program is to facilitate youth exchange, in such a way that it enhances the Pacific youths’ understanding of Japan, its people, its culture, respective way of life and vice-versa,” Mr Fumihiro said.
“This is aimed at developing cohesive societies in the coming years, which will contribute to unity, friendship and peace between our countries, simply because the youth are the future.”
He said Japan had announced at the 9th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9) in July 2021, it would promote people-to-people exchanges and human resource development for over 5500 people at various levels and in variety of fields over three years.
Meanwhile, USP’s JENESYS project coordinator, Maria Taylor said the recruitment process began on November 25 to December 15, 2022.
“The 110 youths selected are assigned to groups that are attached to specific themes relating to the PALM9 priority five areas,” she said.
“These themes include Peace Building and Japanese Culture, Sustainable Development Goals, Environment and Energy Disaster, Prevented and Reconstruction, Tourism and Marine Resources.
“During the tour they will visit local communities, universities, high schools, historical places and organisations relating to their tour theme and in exchange the Japanese communities will get to learn and experience the richness of our Pacific culture.”
Acting Vice Chancellor and President of USP Jito Vanualailai said he was happy that the JENESYS 2022 project would provide students the opportunity to visit Japan and have hands on learning experience that was not possible during the 2020 and 2021 projects due to COVID-19.
“Participants will engage with local communities, experience homestay with local families, interact with high school and university students as well as visit cultural, heritage and choice sites,” Mr Vanualailai said.
“Additionally, the participants will share their Pacific culture with those they interact with Pacific cultural performances, songs, dances, stories and presentations.” He expressed the university’s sincere gratitude to the Japan Embassy and JOCA.
