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YOKOHAMA, JAPAN –Wednesday, July 1, 2009 – The City of Yokohama will be conducting a project called the “African Student Homestay Project”, inviting 32 high school students from 21 African nations starting July 7, 2009. They will stay at the homes of local citizens to deepen the bonds of exchange and friendship with the students of the city. They will also visit municipal elementary and high schools, and embark on a city sightseeing excursion including venues of EXPO Y150.
The project aims to further deepen the friendship between the citizens of Yokohama and African nations, developed through various citizen-exchange events, and under the “One School, One Country Campaign“*1 that started on the occasion of the 4th Tokyo Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) held in May, 2008.*2 The project has been realized thanks largely to the cooperation from the African Diplomatic Corps (ADC) in Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
The City of Yokohama, in close collaboration with the citizens of several generations including host families and volunteer interpreters, is fully committed to giving a heartfelt welcome to the visiting African students so that they will long remember the charms of the city and the kind hospitality of its citizens. The City of Yokohama also hopes that the project will give an opportunity for the students of the city to become more interested in the cultural and lifestyle diversity of the African children that live on the same planet, thereby providing motivation to become the next-generation leaders for the international community.
【Outline of African Student Homestay Project】
◆ Duration: Tuesday, July 7 – Sunday, July 12, 2009
◆ Schedule：
| Date | Program |
| Tuesday, July 7 | Arrival and orientation |
| Wednesday, July 8 | 9:30-11:10 City sightseeing excursion (including EXPO Y150 venues)
11:30-12:00 Courtesy call on the Mayor of Yokohama (reception room on the 2nd floor of the municipal office) 13:40-16:00 Meeting Ceremony with the host families (Nissan Stadium) |
| Thursday, July 9 | 9:00-11:00 Visit a municipal elementary school of the “One School, One
Country” Campaign 12:00-16:00 Visit to Yokohama Commercial High School |
| Friday, July 10 | 9:00-12:50 Visit to Yokohama Science Frontier High School
13:20-17:05 City sightseeing excursion (locations to visit: Nissan Motor Company Yokohama Plant or Yokohama Sankeien Garden, Yokohama Landmark Tower, and the Port of Yokohama) 17:30-20:30 Participate in the “Children’s Environmental Education Conference on Tropical Forests” organized by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) |
| Saturday, July 11 | 12:00-14:30 Farewell party (presentations by African high school students and cultural exchange program)
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| Sunday, July 12 | Departure from Japan |
【 About TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development) 】
An international conference which the Japanese Government jointly hosts with the United Nations, the World Bank, and other organizations under the theme of African development, held every five years since 1993. The 4th conference (May 2008) was held in Yokohama whilst the first three TICAD conferences were held in Tokyo. With the main theme of “Towards a Vibrant Africa,” the conference discussed initiatives for international society to adopt for the development of Africa. The 4th conference closed with great success, involving 51 African nations including 41 senior officials (heads of state and prime ministers), 34 Asian and Western nations, representatives of 74 United Nations and affiliated organizations and over 3,000 people from civic society such as private entities and NGOs.
【 About “One School, One Country Campaign” 】
The campaign is an endeavor for students of the city to learn about African nations through exchanges in which persons from African embassies and consulates give students interactive briefings about their countries. This campaign was held for the first time on the occasion of the 4th TICAD conference, and the City of Yokohama continues to implement the initiative this year in order to nurture the citizens’ interest in African nations, which might otherwise fade away.
【 Inquiries 】
Please contact the following persons regarding inquiries about interviews and coverage.
【General】
Manager for Office of International Policy, Urban Management and Planning Bureau of the City of Yokohama
TEL：+81-45-671-2068
【School visits and Homestay】
Manager for School Reorganization, School Facilities Planning Division, Board of Education Secretariat of the City of Yokohama TEL：+81-45-671-4173
【Sightseeing excursion】
Manager for Important Conventions and Projects Invitation Division, 150th Anniversary of the Port Opening & Creative City Headquarters
TEL：+81-45-671-4347