New Update from SWYAA

[SWYAA Norway] From Youth Exchange to Diplomatic Dialogue: Meeting with the Japanese Embassy

Lillian Solheim from SWY21, President of SWYAA Norway, who served as a facilitator during SWY Hybrid and SWY2024, held a meeting with the Ambassador of Japan to Norway, the Deputy Head of Mission, and the Cultural Attaché, in Oslo. 　The purpose of the meeting was to introduce SWYAA Norway, highlight its recent contributions to the program through facilitation in SWY Hybrid and SWY2024, and discuss the upcoming 125th anniversary of Norwegian-Japanese diplomatic relations, which is celebrated in 2025.

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[SWYAA Ukraine] Humanitarian Coordination Activities

　Throughout the year 2024, Svitlana Yarova, an SWY alumna and coordinator at the Interregional Humanitarian Coordination Headquarters, organized activities for more than 3,600 children affected by the war — including children of fallen soldiers, prisoners of war, and internally displaced families. These included cinema outings, summer camps, visits to zoos, paddle boat rides, planetarium, theater, and museums. 　In addition, Yarova led the launch of the Support Space for Women and Children Affected by the War in 2023–2024, which remains active Read more

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3rd SWY Weekend – Musandam, Oman

　On December 19–21, 2024, SWY Oman hosted the 3rd SWY Weekend, bringing together 35 alumni of the Ship for World Youth (25 Omani and 10 international participants), representing five countries and twelve batches. The event aimed to enhance communication among SWYers (ex-PYs), promote cultural exchange and tourism, and contribute to community development through youth dialogue and collaboration. 　The three-day program took place in the beautiful Musandam Governorate, overlooking the strategic Strait of Hormuz. It included a mountain tour by 4×4 Read more

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[SWYAA Egypt] Annual Ramadan Iftar

On March 27, 2024, a total of 42 participants including SWYAA Egypt members and their families, as well as SWYers from Japan and New Zealand, and the Director of the Japanese Culture Center in Egypt—gathered on the banks of the Nile in Cairo to celebrate the annual Ramadan Iftar. 　Cultural exchange took place through conversations about Ramadan traditions such as fasting times, customary foods, and traditional drinks for Iftar, as well as discussions on cultural similarities and differences, SWY activity Read more

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SWYAA Egypt Meets the Embassy of Japan

　On September 29, 2024, four board members of SWYAA Egypt visited the Embassy of Japan in Egypt to meet with His Excellency Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Mr. OKA Hiroshi and the Director of the Media and Culture Center at the Embassy of Japan in Cairo Mr. ITO Toshifumi. 　During the visit, the board members introduced the SWY　program and shared details about the SWYAA Global Assembly scheduled in Egypt in November 2025. The Ambassador expressed his enthusiasm, particularly about that Egypt Read more

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SWYAA Sweden Hosted the 15th Global Assembly in Stockholm

The 15th SWYAA Global Assembly was organized by SWYAA Sweden and held in Stockholm over 11 days, gathering approximately 120 participants and volunteers from 19 countries and 24 SWY batches (from SWY2 to SWY2024). 　The official program (August 3-7) included guided tours to Stockholm’s Old Town, City Hall (venue of the Nobel Prize Banquet), and the Vasa Museum. The opening ceremony took place aboard a ship cruising through the Stockholm Archipelago. 　Institutional visits and social contribution activities focused on sustainability, Read more

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[SWYAA South Africa] Mandela Day 2024

　Mandela Day is an annual global celebration held on July 18 to honor the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. It is a call to action for individuals, communities, and organizations to reflect on Mandela’s values and principles, and to make a positive impact in their own communities. (https://www.mandeladay.com/) 　In Cape Town, Lynn Adams (SWY8, SWY30) joined Christel House South Africa in their food parcel drive, supporting families in need through the distribution of essential supplies. 　Firdous Khan (SWY30) participated Read more

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Strengthening Mexico-Japan Relations through Maritime History and Youth Exchange (SWY)

On December 7, 2024, SWYAA Mexico, in collaboration with the National Institute of Historical Studies on the Revolutions of Mexico (INEHRM), held a discussion titled “Fraternal Ties Across the Pacific” at INEHRM’s headquarters in Mexico City. 　The event explored the historical and cultural relationship between Japan and Mexico, emphasizing the role of the Ship for World Youth (SWY) program in strengthening bilateral ties. 　INEHRM representative Eduardo Monroy presented on key historical milestones, including the 16th-century Manila Galleon trade, the 1888 Read more

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Celebrating 100 Years of Türkiye–Japan Relations through Youth Dialogue and Cultural Exchange

　The year 2024 marked the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Japan. Through the efforts of SWY2024 alumnus Ferdi Dumandağ, the Embassy of Japan in Ankara officially recognized SWY2024 as a centennial event. 　To commemorate this milestone, Ayşe Süreyya Özavar (SWY2024) organized the “Friendship Diplomacy Gathering” at Marmara University in cooperation with the student group “Fikir Talimi Kulübü,” attracting nearly 60 undergraduates from international relations, communication, and Asian studies. 　The event featured welcoming remarks by Özavar and a Read more

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SWYAA UK Summer Social 2024

On August 10, 2024, SWYAAUK hosted an open summer social in central London. A group of ex-PYs from the UK and France met to catch up and exchange stories and photographs from different years aboard the Nippon Maru. Looking through personal collections and official printed SWY from SWY6 and SWY10, the photographs really brought to life that connection between past and present generations of SWYers. 　The group then entered the British museum and headed to the Japanese Galleries where the Read more

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