TOMODACHI Summer 2014 Coca-Cola Educational Homestay Program
Internet recruitment for participants has opened
February 4, 2014 — The TOMODACHI Initiative and the Coca-Cola Japan Reconstruction Fund has started recruiting for the TOMODACHI Summer 2014 Coca-Cola Educational Homestay Program. Sixty high school students from the three disaster-affected areas of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures will have the opportunity visit the United States from July 21 to August 5, 2014. To apply, applications can be requested and mailed or can be submitted over the web at http://www.eiljapan.org/usjapantomodachi/. The deadline for application is March 14, 2014.
The Coca-Cola Japan Reconstruction Fund supports the TOMODACHI Initiative, which is led by the U.S. Government and U.S.-Japan Council, with support from the Government of Japan. Aiming to further aid the recovery effort, the Coca-Cola Japan Reconstruction Fund has supported the TOMODACHI Summer Coca-Cola Educational Homestay Program since 2012. Over the past two years, the program has sent 179 high school students to the United States to study English, learn about the culture, and experience a homestay. While learning about American history and culture, students reflect upon and gain new perspectives regarding their experience during the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011.
During the program, the students will be divided into four groups of 15 and will be accompanied by one leader. Each group will travel to various locations across the United States to experience an authentic homestay. Over the course of the program, each student will study the English language, participate in volunteer activities, and visit local universities.
Prior to the homestay, the students will have the opportunity to visit Coca-Cola’s headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. While in Atlanta, the participants will meet with American high school students and will share their respective cultures and have the opportunity to discuss the ongoing Tohoku recovery efforts.
The Coca-Cola Japan Reconstruction Fund hopes that those participating in this homestay program will have a chance to reflect upon their experience during the disaster and gain a new perspective through this cross-cultural program. The Fund supports the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami through the construction of public and educational facilities and attention to the personal recovery and growth of young people affected by the disaster.
About the TOMODACHI Initiative
The TOMODACHI Initiative is a public-private partnership, born out of support for Japan’s recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake. TOMODACHI invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and cultural exchanges as well as leadership programs.
TOMODACHI Initiative website URL: http://usjapantomodachi.org
Contact Information:
TOMODACHI Initiative TEL: 03-3224-5000
Coca-Cola Educational and Environmental Foundation
Public Relations Office （at The Coca-Cola (Japan) Company, Ltd.）
TEL：03-5574-4805 FAX：03-6779-4591
