UK Ship For World Youth

SWY 14

Wa Wa Wa (Unity, Friendship and Harmony)

WA WA WA was the Ship for World Youth 14 Program Slogan.

The whole Ship for World Youth 14 programme was put in jeopardy by the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York.

The initial route was to have taken in us from Japan to the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius and back again. The decision was taken to change the route as a precaution to the perceived security risks in following the initial route.

The world had changed and we were all affected!

Happily, with Japanese Government and IYEO persevereance, a new route was organised and we set off on the 12th of October 2001 from Tokyo towards Sipan, Fiji, New Zealand, Singapore, Bangkok and back to Singapore filying home from Singapore.

On the ship were countries from :

• Australia: 10 people
• Africa: Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius. 11 people each country
• Europe: Finland, Greece, UK. 10 people each country
• Middle East: Bahrain, Egypt, United Arab Emirates. 10 people each country
• Japan: 124 people
• South Asia: India, Sri-Lanka. 10 people each country
• South America: Brazil. 10 people
• U.S.A.: 10 people

The U.K. SWY 14 delegation feel empowered by our experience and think it will help us in the future to further our aims in promoting international friendship through exchanges and cultural projects.