MOFA and DODEA Youth Exchange Program 2023 at CFAY

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik Rivera | YOKOSUKA, Japan (Feb. 5, 2023) – Capt. Les Sobol, Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka attends the MOFA/DODEA Youth Exchange Program 2023 at Yokosuka Middle High School, Feb. 5, 2023. During the two-day educational and cultural exchange event, American students from Nile C. Kinnick High School and Japanese students from various Yokosuka schools forged new friendships by tackling group projects together, strengthening the relationship between the base and local community. For 75 years, CFAY has provided, maintained, and operated base facilities and services in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet's forward-deployed naval forces, tenant commands, and thousands of military and civilian personnel and their families. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Erik M. Rivera Jr.)  

YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

02.05.2023

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik Rivera 

Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka

YOKOSUKA, Japan (February 5, 2023) - Students from Nile C. Kinnick High School joined local Japanese students from various Yokosuka schools for a two-day Youth Exchange Program event at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka’s (CFAY) Yokosuka Middle School, Feb. 4-5.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity – Pacific (DoDEA), with support from U.S. Embassy and consulates in Japan and U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ), sponsor the annual program, which brings local Japanese students and DoDEA students together to participate in educational and cultural exchange activities.

While attending the final ceremony for the Youth Exchange event, Capt. Les Sobol, Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, provided some insight about the program, “This program provides our local Japanese students and DODEA students to engage in an educational and cultural exchange, allowing them to bridge language barriers, form new friendships as well as bring about different perspectives.”

During the two-day event, American and Japanese middle and high school students participated in hands-on activities with the goal to diversify perspectives, promote an exchange of culture and understanding, bridge language barriers, and develop team building and problem-solving skills.

On the first day of the event, students introduced themselves, formed groups with unique names and taglines, and exchanged greetings in their native languages. On the second day, students competed in games, shared information about their lives, and worked in groups to design a mascot character to promote the theme of Japanese and U.S. friendship.
Rachel Harnage, a student from Nile C. Kinnick said, “Creating and presenting our project was easily my favorite part, especially working together as a team with my fellow students and Japanese students.”

“Exchanging cultures and communication, working together and getting through the language barriers was really fun,” added Aruto Izumiya, a Japanese student.

In addition to the event at CFAY, the MOFA - DoDEA Pacific Youth Exchange Program held events at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Camp Lester Marine Corps Base in Okinawa, Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo, Misawa Air Base, and Army base Camp Zama earlier this year and late last year. An event at Yokota Air Base is scheduled for later this year.

For more than 75 years, CFAY has provided, maintained, and operated base facilities and services in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet's forward deployed naval forces, tenant commands, and thousands of military and civilian personnel and their families.

• Date Taken: 02.05.2023
• Date Posted: 04.05.2023 21:22
• Story ID: 442005
• Location: YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP