Participants Voice

The crisis of the novel coronavirus is spreading rapidly around the world, and there has never been a greater need for solidarity and cooperation from the international community than today, when the situation is becoming more serious. In the APCC program, children from different countries and cultures recognize "We are the BRIDGE" and fosters sincere exchanges and friendships. The results have become a valuable asset not only for Fukuoka but also for the Asian-Pacific region. I expect all the participants will contribute to the further promotion of international understanding and cooperation as an ambassador of their countries and regions.
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific is an international organization which is based in Fukuoka and operating in approximately 40 countries of the Asian-Pacific region. Since 2002, I have been an advisor of APCC and we have planned and worked together for the "Global Bridge Leader (GBL) Action Program". We had the opportunity to accept the Japanese high school students at the Sri Lanka and Nepal offices of UN-HABITAT and let them learn the challenges the local people are facing. I hope that such experiences will help the participating high school students to develop their future careers. I also hope that APCC will continue to run grassroots international cultural exchange programs in Fukuoka.