Junior Ambassadors selected to represent Hawaii at the 36th Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention in Japan
The Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) is pleased to announce the selection of four Junior Ambassadors (JAs) to represent JASH and Hawaii at the 36th Annual Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention (APCC) in Fukuoka, Japan in summer 2024.
The APCC is a cultural exchange program that deepens participants’ appreciation for the cultures of other nations and regions; promotes mutual understanding and friendship; nurtures international awareness in young people; and works towards world peace and co-existence. It is hoped that the JAs will build an international network of friends.
For the next several months, the four Junior Ambassadors—two boys and two girls, all aged 11 at the time of travel—will participate in a JASH-designed training program for their Japan experience this July. In Fukuoka, the students will meet over 160 fellow Junior Ambassadors from over 60 countries and cities in the Asia-Pacific region in a global youth camp. This will be followed by a homestay where they will each live with a Japanese host family. It is our hope that our Ambassadors will mature into adults with a strong sense of social responsibility.
The 2024 Junior Ambassadors for the United States of America-Hawaii Delegation are:
Jonah Sasaki, attends Hahaione Elementary School
Kendall Bloom, attends Waialua Elementary School
Lily Yasuda, attends Waikiki Elementary School
Matthew Guan, attends Ala Wai Elementary School
They will be accompanied by chaperone Wendy Lum, who has been actively involved with the JASH Educational programs since her children also participated in the program as JAs.
The USA-Hawaii Delegation also has the honor of sending our APCC alumnus, Joanna Sato (Junior Ambassador 2018) as a 2024 Peace Ambassador to join the delegation to participate in the Peace Ambassador Camp as a part of a global youth camp.
JASH is honored to have served as the Liaison Office for the Hawaii delegation since 2003. If you wish to know more about the APCC program, please visit the JASH website at https://www.jashawaii.org/education/apcc, or contact Educational Programs Coordinator Eiko Ushida at eushida@jashawaii.org.
2024 APCC - Hawaii Delegation
Back row: Peace Ambassador Joanna Sato
Front row (L-R): Matthew Guan, Lily Yasuda, Kendall Bloom, Jonah Sasaki, and Chaperone Wendy Lum
