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The 28th Asian-Pacific Children's Convention
Building Friendships
By Min Khant Tun, Myanmar Junior Ambassador 2016
My experience as a Junior Ambassador changed me into a new person. During my journey, I learned about building friendships and the OMOIYARI spirit. During our first five days at the Marine House, the APCC organized games and sport events to allow us to build friendships with each other. We each had a chance to perform our cultural dances and exchanged name cards and gifts. From these activities, we were able to learn about other cultures and traditions and meet people all around the world.
 After the Marine House Camp, all ambassadors stayed with Japanese host families for about a week. My host family treated me kindly and warmly. We had fun going to various sightseeing places around the city. At a Japanese local school, I participated in art and cooking classes and school cleaning activities along with the Japanese students. At night, we happily watched fireworks. Our experiences together strengthened our bonds of friendship with both family members and friends.
I will never forget my trip to Japan because it was a great milestone in my life. From this trip, all of the Junior Ambassadors gained many friends and valuable experiences that will help us become good global citizens, and we came to understand the OMOIYARI spirit of respect and understanding.
A Peace Ambassador's Perspective
By Sahil Shah, 2016 Peace Ambassador, BC India
The 28th APCC was one of the best experiences of my life. We first met each other at the Marine House Camp and then headed to the Global Arena for the Peace Ambassador program. Although our schedule was hectic at times, we learned a lot and created strong bonds with each other. There was lots of fun entertainment, but we also many important sessions to discuss items such as the BCIO action plan for 2016-2017 and the Common Activity, which will be announced shortly.
At the We Are the BRIDGE Festival, we witnessed traditional dances from all 43 of the participating countries and a fashion show by all Peace Ambassadors, who wore their traditional national costumes. We finished by singing our “We Are the BRIDGE†song, which certainly brought tears to our eyes.
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2016 Common Activity Recap
by Moiz Rehan, BC Pakistan
The 2016 Common Activity “See Beyond Borders†was highly successful. This common activity utilized the power of video to share the unique cultures and traditions from our respective countries. These short video documentaries, 3-5 minutes in length, featured such things as food, music, cultural dress, and religious festivals, and they were shared through the APCC Facebook page. By showcasing the beauty and diversity of our BRIDGE CLUB network, we helped to spread the OMOIYARI spirit of inclusion worldwide.
 There were 32 See Beyond Borders entries and thousands of video views on Facebook. The top videos were given awards in various categories; BRIDGE CLUB Vietnam won the “Most Views†Award, BRIDGE CLUB Pakistan won the “Most Likes†Award, and the Judges Choice was awarded to BRIDGE CLUB Myanmar. A huge thanks to everyone for making See Beyond Borders successful!
BRIDGE CLUB Professional Network (BCPN)
We’re excited to announce that the BCIO has approved the creation of a BRIDGE CLUB Professional Network (BCPN). This network will be exclusively for professional BC members; this is defined as anyone who has graduated from a college/university, regardless of what occupation they currently have.
As the number of former JA reaches 10,600, the age difference between the first batch of JA and the current batch is 27 years, and more than half of them are now of professional age. While BC activities are mainly focused on friendship, cultural exchange, and charity, our senior members have different interests which are related to career, personal development, and actualization of their capabilities. Professional BC members also have the potential to continue to give back by sharing their experiences, expertise, resources, etc. And utilizing the APCC network for both their personal development and the development of BRIDGE CLUB and its members.
The main program of BCPN, which will be launched shortly, is the BCPN Internship Program. BCPN members will be encouraged to provide internship opportunities in their company for BC members who are current college students or recent graduates. Internship employers do not have to pay the intern a salary but must provide accommodations/home-stay during the internship term. The internship term is flexible from two days to one month.
If you’re a professional member and are interested in joining BCPN, please contact us at bc.professionalnet@gmail.com. |
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BRIDGE CLUB Papua New Guinea Cheer on Japanese Soccer Team
by Carol Lessi, 2016 PA, BC Papua New Guinea
Out of their busy study and work schedules, BRIDGE CLUB Papua New Guinea (BCPNG) members effortlessly learned Japanese war-cries to support Japan's Women's Nadeshiko U20 FIFA World Cup Team in a friendly set of matches at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby. The Japanese team received a warm Manus dance performance by BCPNG members and went on to win two big games against the Papua New Guinea and USA teams. Each game ended with the team giving a respectful bow to the crowd.
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Ramadan Drive '16
by Moiz Qazi, 2016 PA, BC Pakistan
BRIDGE CLUB Pakistan carried out Ramadan Drive ’16 to help the needy. They began collecting donations, and word about this project spread through social media and their volunteers. BCP collected over $1,000 and used it to donate food and help entrepreneurs with business loans. This is a continuation of Ration Drive ’15, which was carried out during Ramadan in 2016.
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2016 PA Program Report
We are happy to release the Peace Ambassador Program Report following another successful APCC Invitation Project and PA Camp.
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please email office@bcio.org
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EDITORIAL: Does Age Matter in BRIDGE CLUB?
by Jacob Saiki, BC Hawaii
Despite being active in BRIDGE CLUB Hawaii (BCH) since its establishment in 2008, I was recently surprised to find myself feeling “out of place†at an event we held this past August. At 22 years old, I’m basically an old man compared to the majority of our active members.
Similar to other BRIDGE CLUBS, BCH strives to foster youth leaders through cultural exchange, international friendships and local service. So what happens when you’re not considered “youth†anymore? As the APCC approaches its 29th anniversary next July, BRIDGE CLUBs may begin to face and are facing difficult questions about how members can continue to have a dynamic and meaningful role throughout life.
I believe the Peace Ambassador (PA) Program is one of our strongest tools in rewarding and nurturing leadership and participation, and it should adapt to the changing demographics of BRIDGE CLUBs in two ways: 1) The average age of a PA will continue to rise, which will add diversity and experience to the program in Japan; 2) Attending the APCC as a Junior Ambassador will no longer be a mandatory qualification of becoming a PA, which will help local BRIDGE CLUBs attract young, enthusiastic change-makers.
The first recommendation will happen naturally as the eligible pool for PA continues to age. The second will take concerted effort, but I believe it is essential for the future of this organization. One BCH member told me that she often feels alienated when former JA talk about the APCC, knowing that she will never get a chance to participate herself, even though she is a very active BCH member. Please think these ideas over, because I think we should do all that we can to excite active members to be Everyday Ambassadors.
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See more photos from the 28th Asian-Pacific Children's Convention on the APCC PR Blog
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