TOMODACHI Amway Japan Foundation Tohoku Future Leader Program 2024 held the Pre-departure Training

TOMODACHI Amway Japan Foundation Tohoku Future Leader Program 2024 started in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture. Sixteen high school freshmen and sophomores from the city have been selected to participate in the seven-month program, which consists of pre-departure seminars, a study trip to the United States, post-trip seminars, and a final presentation. The program was created to foster the next generation of leaders in Tohoku who will rediscover the charms of their town and revitalize it through the power of tourism. The first program was held in 2019, and this year will be the second year of the program.

The purpose of the pre-departure seminars, which will be held four times in total, is to learn about the local characteristics and tourism in Rikuzentakata City. The students will organize the information obtained, and acquire the ability to share their thoughts in order to deepen the learning from the program in the United States.

The first pre-departure seminar was held in February at Rikuzentakata city. At the seminar, participants deepened their understanding of tourism from the city’s administration through two lectures. After listening to the lectures, the they then actively asked various questions such as “What are your opinions about creating a website for tourists visiting Rikuzentakata City that provides information not only about Rikuzentakata City but also the neighboring areas?”, and “How about creating a facility that makes it easy for young people to visit and interact with the local residents of  Rikuzentakata City?”
This pre-departure seminar was covered in the Tokai-shimpo newspaper.

The remaining pre-departure seminars and a send-off party will be held from February to March, and then the participants will travel to the United States in March.