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UNITAR Hiroshima announces launch of the Youth Ambassador Programme

by Yumi Kanazaki, Staff Writer

On June 28, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Hiroshima Office announced the launch of the UNITAR Youth Ambassador Programme, a new endeavor aimed at nurturing youth in Hiroshima to assume roles in peace building and diplomacy in the future. One male student and one female student of high school age from Hiroshima will be selected as Youth Ambassadors to learn about peace and diplomacy.

Alexander Mejia, head of UNITAR Asia Pacific, held a press conference at Hiroshima City Hall and outlined the program. Mr. Meija explained that the Youth Ambassadors will visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, embassies, and U.N. organizations, among other entities, learning about careers in diplomacy and international affairs during their nine-month appointment, from October 2010 to June 2011. In addition, through the exchange of views with national and local political leaders, they will convey a message of peace as young people of Hiroshima.

Applicants for the program must submit an essay on certain topics involving diplomacy, such as "The Relationship between Diplomacy and Peace" and "Hiroshima's Contributions to Global Peace," through their schools by September 30. The two Youth Ambassadors selected through essays and interviews will also receive an Apple iPad computer.

Mr. Mejia called for applications for the program, saying that he hopes the opportunity will offer youth in Hiroshima impetus for a future career path. He added that UNITAR will continue to select new Youth Ambassadors every year. Tadatoshi Akiba, the mayor of Hiroshima, Masafumi Nakayama, director general of the Hiroshima Prefecture Planning and Promotion Bureau, and Kazutaka Yamamoto, vice president of the Chugoku Shimbun, also joined Mr. Mejia at the press conference. For further information, please contact the UNITAR Hiroshima Office by phone at 082-511-2424.

(Originally published on June 29, 2010)  

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