Local teenagers have a chance to experience Japanese culture through the YMCA Youth Leadership Institute.
Youth will travel to Kobe, Hiroshima and Kyoto this summer (July 19-Aug. 1) to be immersed in the culture, history and family life in Japan. Applications will only be accepted through March 30, and financial assistance is available.
Participating youth learn important leadership skills, cultural sensitivity and international communications. There are 13 spots available for the program, which is part of the YMCA Youth Leadership Institute, an international program offered each year to greater Seattle youth ages 14-18.
The Kobe YMCA will provide guides for the group and arrange home stays. YMCA of Greater Seattle staff and adult chaperones will accompany the youth during the trip.
“The lesson I took back with me to the U.S. is: Travel is not about showing your independence but learning to rely on strangers from different backgrounds and gaining new experiences,” said Erin McLean, a junior at Inglemoor High School in Kenmore and participant in last year’s program.
“I would recommend this trip to anyone interested. Before the trip, I used to approach things more cautiously and analytically but after living with my host family and experiencing their warm hospitality, I found that I can bond with other people as closely as I do with people at home. I realized going outside of my comfort zone helped me grow as a person. I now have a much greater desire to step out and meet people from different cultures and backgrounds so that I too can keep on growing as a person.” said Jane Boldery, another participant.
The subsidized trip costs $2,600 and includes airfare, transportation, food, and activities. Financial assistance is available to the extent possible. There is an interview process, orientation for parents and participants, plus pre-trip preparation and cultural training meetings. Applications for the YMCA Youth Leadership Institute are due by March 30.
For more than 40 years, the YMCA of Greater Seattle and Kobe YMCA have collaborated to offer this immersion program. Additional international programs run each year through the YMCA of Greater Seattle, in cooperation with several of the YMCAs in 124 countries worldwide.
For more an Application Packet and more information on the Youth Leadership Institute in Japan and international programs at the YMCA, visit the Web site or call 425-485-9797.
