The Ship for World Youth Program (SWY) 2025

The Ship for World Youth Program (SWY) is a reorganized program of the Japanese Youth Goodwill Cruise program that began as one of the commemorative projects of the Centennial of the Meiji Restoration in 1967.

In 1988, SWY developed its form to the present style that focuses on the interaction among Participating Youths, including discussions and other activities.

Purpose

Currently, cooperation, coordination and negotiation across borders are indispensable to respond to problems in various fields, and the next generation of leaders who navigates those challenges is essential.

From this aspect, Ship for World Youth (SWY) aims to establish a strong human network across national borders and provides Participating Youths(PYs) from all over the world with various opportunities including discussions, cultural exchanges and PY-led workshops, so that PYs can gain abilities to deal with different cultures, communication skills, leadership skills and management skills.

Participating Countries

There were 13 participating countries in the program, and a total of 172 PYs (77 Japanese PYs and 95 foreign PYs) joined the SWY 2025 program.

  • Algeria
  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Djibouti
  • Egypt
  • Oman
  • Panama
  • Peru
  • Poland
  • Senegal
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sweden
  • Japan

Program Contents

During the SWY program (January 24 to February 21, 2025) for 29 days, Japanese PYs along with PYs from 12 other countries participated in Tokyo Session, Onboard Training Sessions, Ports of Call Activities (Cultural Experience Session and Project-Based Learning session).
The participants took part in various kinds of training and exchange activities including presentations about each country’s characteristics and seminars organized by PYs.

Tokyo Session

  • (1) Program period
    • Friday, January 24 - Monday, January 27, 2025
  • (2) Activities
    • Inauguration Ceremony
    • Orientation
    • Field Study
    • Course Discussion
    • Committee Activities
    • Voluntary Activity


Field Study in Sensoji


Voluntary Activity (Japanese tea tasting)


Onboard Training Session

  • (1) Program period
    • Tuesday, January 28 - Saturday, February 1, 2025
    • Tuesday, February 4 – Friday, February 7, 2025
    • Thursday, February 13 – Friday, February 21, 2025
      (18 days in total)
  • (2) Activities
    • Course Discussion
    • National Presentation
    • Peer-Learning Seminar
    • All-PY Seminar
    • Sports & Recreation
    • Voluntary Activity
    • Committee Activities
    • Summary Forum
    • Closing Ceremony


Peer-Learning Seminar


National Presentation


Ports of Call Activities

Cultural Experience Session in Shizuoka

Cultural Experience Session (CES) was implemented in Shizuoka for two days. In the CES, PYs experienced local attractions and Japanese cultures, and interacted with local youths through various activities.

  • (1) Program period
    Sunday, February 2 - Monday, February 3, 2025 (2 days)
  • (2) Activities
    • Visit to Facilities
    • Visit to schools
    • Welcome reception on board


Mascot creation experience with local people


Interacting with local high school students


Project-Based Learning session in Shimane

Project-Based Learning session (PBL) zwas implemented in Shimane for five days. Through the PBL, PYs, who were divided into 8 course discussion groups, deepened their thoughts on social challenges in the local area and discussed with people working on those issues onsite. On the last day of PBL, PYs presented their ideas about how to resolve the challenges.

  • (1) Program period
    Saturday, February 8 - Wednesday, February 12, 2025 (5 days)
  • (2) Activities
    • Visit to Facilities related to Course Discussion themes
    • Courtesy visit
    • Summary Forum of PBL


Traditional Washi Paper making workshop


Presenting the exchanged ideas regarding challenges
in local area


Course Discussion

PYs were divided into 8 theme groups and worked on different academic discussion themes related to the challenges many countries are facing. Course Discussion was conducted on the similar themes closely related to the PBL.

Discussion Theme

  1. Community Design Utilizing Llocal Resources
  2. Inheritance of Traditional Culture
  3. Quality Education
  4. Environmental Conservation
  5. Social Inclusion of Migrants in Local Community
  6. Tourism Promotion Utilizing lLcal Resources
  7. Youth Empowerment in Rural Areas
  8. Quality Welfare Sservices


Course Discussion on the ship ①


Course Discussion on the ship ②


Report of the Ship for World Youth Program 2025

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