~ Article and photos from Australia-Japan Society Far North Queensland ~
Once again in December / January during the high school Summer holidays, the Australia-Japan Society FNQ will again send two high school students from Cairns to study, speak, live, breath, eat and experience real home life in the amazing country of Japan.
At the end of August these two Cairns students and their parents were interviewed by a panel of AJS FNQ members and community members and were considered to be the most worthy candidates.This AJS program has been purposely modelled by Makoto Kamatani Haynes, the Scholarship Coordinator, as a Cairns / Japan Sister City program.
They will each travel to a different Cairns / Japan Sister City of Minami Town in Tokushima for Scott, with Luke travelling to Oyama City, Tochigi. Interestingly the two recipients of last year’s scholarship were both young ladies.
The program package includes return travel air fares, transfers and accommodation, (if necessary) school meals and uniform if available, they will also study in a Japanese Junior High School for 2-3 weeks and home-stay with a local family for 4-5 weeks.
The two Scholarship recipients for 2015-16 are: SCOTT ZAPPULLA, (Left) and LUKE STEVENSON (Right)
The two supporting Japanese councils also arrange traditional Japanese cultural activities and sports. The 2014-15 two students claimed the scholarship program was a life changing experience.
On their return the two students are encouraged to stay involved and volunteer with the AJS FNQ for the next 12 months and assisting with scholarship film and food fundraising events and the promotion of the next scholarship program. These two AJS ambassadors of Cairns will make new friends and further the special relationships with the Cairns / Japan Sister Cities, Minami Town & Oyama City. The AJS are very grateful for the contributions and support from the two Council Mayors and community in strengthening the valuable friendships.
Jeff Haynes – 0417 756 849 Makoto Kamatani-Haynes – 0405 144 533
President Student Scholarship Coordinator
president@ajsfnq.org.au scholarship@ajsfnq.org.au
Australia – Japan Society FNQ Inc.
http://www.ajsfnq.org.au/