Participants sought for youth program promoting international understanding, friendship

July 28, 2005 -- Through the generosity of the Government of Japan, twelve young Canadians will be participating in the 18th Ship for World Youth program.

From mid-January to early March, 120 Japanese and 144 youth from 12 other nations will live together on a ship as it travels from Harumi, Japan to Singapore, India (Chennai), Kenya (Mombassa), Mauritius (Port Louis), Singapore and back to Harumi from where the Canadian delegation will return home by air.

The purpose of the Ship for World Youth is to promote international understanding and friendship between youth from Japan and other parts of the world. While on the ship, the delegates attend seminars and lectures given by professors from the top Japanese and other universities. In addition, participants are expected to lead seminars and lecture their counterparts from other countries on topics related to their country. In each port of call, participants are hosted by the local head of state and by local business and political leaders. English is the working language on the Ship.

All Canadian participants will be flown from the international airport closest to their home and returned there after completion of the program. Participants will be financially responsible for ONLY health insurance and pocket money during the entire program. All transportation, both sea and air, as well as all meals and accommodation will be provided by the Government of Japan.

The Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP) of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), on behalf of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa, is organizing this recruitment. The selection of the twelve Canadian delegates will be done in concert with the Canadian Ship Alumni Association. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 to 30. A National Leader aged 30 to 39 will also be selected. All participants must be in good health, work well with groups, be capable of study at the post-secondary level and be prepared to commit to the entire duration of ! the programme. There is a $25 application fee which will be payable to the Ship Alumni Association and funds earned will be used to support the delegation, to subsidize some of the cost of this recruitment and the ongoing support of the Alumni.

The Application Deadline for the National Leader position is August 26, 2005. The Application deadline for delegate participants is September 2, 2005. Application forms and other pertinent information are available by visiting the site http://www.swycanada.org/index.html