BRIDGE Challenge Trip
BRIDGE Challenge Trip
What is BRIDGE Challenge Trip?
"BRIDGE Challenge Trip" is an overseas cross-cultural experience program held annually during spring break for elementary school 5th graders to high school 3rd graders in Fukuoka. Each destination is a group consisting of approximately 15 children and 3 adult chaperones.
Before leaving, the group will undergo several training sessions to ensure safe activities and deepen exchanges with the local community. While there, they will take on a variety of challenges through homestays, school visits, cultural experiences, and more. Their host organizations are public institutions with a long history of exchange with APCC, and they will provide thorough support for the group members and their supervisors throughout their stay.
After returning home, participants will hold a report session to share their experiences with many people, providing an opportunity to reflect on their learning and realize their own growth.
★APCC terminology introduction★
Members: 5th grade elementary school students to 3rd grade high school students selected through public recruitment
Supervisor: A person who will plan and manage the pre- and post-training for the members, accompany them to the destination, and support the children in their challenges.
The appeal of challenge trips
・Experiences that cannot be experienced on sightseeing trips or language trainingInteracting with local host families and childrenTaking on the challenge of intercultural exchange through
・Acceptance by one family per personA four-night homestay experience
・Visits to local schools, embassies, consulates, international cooperation organizations, etc.Special learning through severalAdvance trainingWe will prepare for the dispatch,Post-trainingReflect on your experience and apply what you learned to the next step.
・Cooperation with public institutions and organizations with long-standing relationships with APCCUnder this, you can engage in intercultural exchange
Activities Overview
Before departing for the host country, the participants will learn about the host country and will receive important training to ensure a safe and secure trip. In addition, upon their return, participants summarize their experiences and prepare a presentation for the debriefing session.
The Chaperons who support the participants meet their challenges are volunteers. Prior to departure, there will be three training sessions to provide them with knowledge about the trip and how they can support the children.
Participants fly from Fukuoka Airport to their respective destinations. At this moment, we can see the high expectations and a little bit of nervousness on the children's faces. Have a safe and pleasant trip!
During the placement, participants will have the opportunity to visit local schools, embassies, international organizations, etc., and gain new insights, including the differences between Japan and other countries.
We will also challenge ourselves to interact with the children at our schools and homestays! Even if we don't speak the same language, we can surely communicate with each other's hearts!
Each member will stay with a family at their destination, experiencing the food and lifestyle unique to that country or region.
The members of the same delegation who spend about four months together from the training until they return home are the ones who will live with us in the future. These connections are a lifelong treasure.
As the culmination of the program, it will be an opportunity to summarize what they learned and experienced at each placement and share it with parents and the general public.
Summer 2026 Placement(tentative)
Indonesia (Jakarta)
India (Bengaluru)
Australia (Melbourne)
Flow of dispatch
(Scheduled to be dispatched in the summer of 2026)
| 【Date】 | [Contents] |
|---|---|
| Late March to late April 2026 | Recruitment period for group members and chaperones *Each information session will also be held |
| Around mid-May | Determination of group members and leaders |
| Late May to early June | Training sessions for group leaders (2 sessions) |
| June 14th (Sun) | General training session |
| Sunday, June 28th | Country Workshop 1 |
| July 25th (Sat) - 26th (Sun) | Overnight training session (2 days, 1 night) |
| August 2nd (Sunday) | Unity ceremony |
| Mid to late August | Actual dispatch (departure to return: approximately 1 week) |
| September 13th (Sunday) | Country-specific training session 2 |
| September 27th (Sunday) | Debriefing session |
Regarding recruitment of Challenge Trip members and Chaperons
Recruitment for participants and chaperones for the 2026 Summer Dispatch has ended.
Thank you very much for all your applications!
Participants Voice
Photo gallery
FAQ
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Q
Please tell me the themes of the assignments for the Challenge Trip application.
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A
The content of the assignments varies depending on the year, but for reference, the assignments for the Spring 2024 dispatch are as follows.
【Elementary and junior high school students】
①Why did you decide to apply for Challenge Trip?
②What do you want to try in your destination?
③What kind of person do you want to be in the future?
【High school students】
①What do you want to try in your destination?
②What is the one thing about yourself that is better than others?
③What role do you think you can play in the delegation, which has members ranging from elementary school to high school students?
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Q
How much does it cost to participate in the Challenge Trip?
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A
Costs vary depending on the destination. Please check the application guidelines as they are listed there.
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Q
I'm thinking of applying for the challenge trip with my friends, brothers and sisters, but can we be in the same delegation?
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A
We are very sorry, but it is not possible to participate in the same delegation.