Local teenagers have a chance to experience Japanese culture through the YMCA Youth Leadership Institute, with a trip to the Japanese cities of Kobe, Hiroshima and Kyoto this summer.
Running from July 19 to Aug. 1, the trip will give participants the opportunity to be immersed in the culture, history and family life in Japan. Applications will only be accepted through April 12, 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.
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 April 12.
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 an Application Packet and more information on the Youth Leadership Institute in Japan and international programs at the YMCA, visit seattleymca.org/international or call 425-485-9797.
