Preparing to Set Sail in Japan

Hi Everyone!

A few months ago I was selected to represent Australia on an international youth exchange program - The Ship for World Youth. The program is run by the Cabinet Office of Japan and is designed to bring young leaders together from all around the world, building international relations and global awareness among participants. The program runs for 6wks (beginning on January 16th 2018) during which 240 young participants will travel, live and learn together on a ship, departing Japan and making stops in Singapore, Sri Lanka and India.

I am one of only 12 Australians selected to participate and the only person from Queensland. There are 9 other participating countries - Japan, Sri Lanka, India, Spain, Mexico, Peru, Poland, South Africa & Mozambique. I was selected based on my community engagement, particularly in relation to my work within Surf Lifesaving. For the past 2 years I have coordinated the NSW Junior Lifesaver of the Year program - having been assistant coordinator and facilitating this program since 2012.

Although a large portion of the costs are covered by the Japanese Government, there are also personal costs involved in preparing for departure. Our team is currently in the process of designing and sourcing national uniforms and individual business cards. We are also required to provide a number of gifts for dignitaries and personal gifts for fellow participants, home-stay families and administration staff. This is where you can help!!

Any sort of donation you can provide in assisting me prepare for this trip of a lifetime would be greatly appreciated, with every little bit making my preparation much easier. I thank you for taking the time to read about my journey, and thank you in advance for any support you can provide!