Dr. Avnish Jolly, Aizu Wakamatsu, 3rd December, 2008 :Presently youth leaders of 13 states of \india are on 18 days visit to Japan in association with Japan International Cooeration Agency (JICA) Tokyo and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MOYAS), Govt of India, New Delhi.
15 participants underwent orientaiton and technical exposure of different issues related to youth related activities in Japan at JICA International Centre Tokyo for 7 days from 26th Nov 2008 to Dec 1st 2008.
The group of young leaders was then taken to Aizuwakamatsu International Association at Aizuwakamatsu city in Fukushima prefecture . On the way participants cisited JICA Nihonmatsu Training Centre. Incharge implementaion of programme Mr. Kanamikita addressed the group and gave introduction of JICA facilities and activities of 18 centres with briefing of basic schedule of the programme ahead. Later the officials of Aizuwakamatsu International Association greeted participants on arrival at hotel Washington Aizuwakamatsu and an orientation was given by office manager Mr. Shinji Kobayashi about the the programme objectives and Aizu city.
On 3rd Dec 2008 the participants met with the Mayor of the city Mr. Ichiro Kanke on a courtesy call. He gave a very warm welcome to the participants and expressed his concern to wards this initiative. Dr. Parshant Singh on behalf of all the trainees delivered vote of thanks to the Mayor and other dignotories present on the occassion. Participants later on presented various souveniers to the Mayor and offered a formal invitation to the Mayor to visit India. The Mayor promised to visit India to aquaint himself about youth related programmes in order to solve the problems of youth of Japan.
The group then visited Tsuruga-jo Castle being run by Aizu city Tourism bureau, a historical building and also learnt about Rinkaku, a tea ceremony. In the afternoon , young leaders of India went to the office of AIA the agency who is coordinating the technical and practical training in association with JICA . Mrs. Jiali Ma and Mr. Indi of AIA gave a brief outline of the programme.
Mr. Osamu Ono , Adjacent staff member of Aizi city Board of Education delivered a special lecture on the topic `Current State of Affairs and Challenges of Youth Education in Aizu City and Directions for Future`. He emphasized on holistic development and clean environment programmes being run by the \aizu city Youth Development Council for the involvement and benefit of the youth. He also highlighted important achievement of the Council in developing permanent youth related facilities which are also being availed by local citizens. Mr. Ono however was worried about decline in number of volunteers for social development during discussion and interactive session Indian Participants provided useful suggestions for the existing problems of youth of Japan
Under this programme, Dr. Prashant Singh , Mr. P.K. Sabale , Ms. Nanda M. Raut , Ms. Harita Mehta , Mr. Gitartha Baruah , Ms. Tajamul Taju ,Mr. Amardeep Singh , Mr. D. K. Subbaiah , Mr. P.K. Sain , Rs. Nita Manohar Pednekar , Mr. Y.A. Parab , Dr. Rupinder Bir Kaur , Vijay Kumar , Mr. L. K Singh and Dr. Avnish Jolly are being exposed to training related to youth activities and implementing in India those are potentially useful. These leaders will stay in Japan till 12th Dec 2008.