Students ages 12-15 who have an interest in the environment and want to share their knowledge with counterparts in Japan and China are encouraged to apply for the Yokkaichi, Japan, Environmental Summit. Participants will depart Aug. 11 for Japan and return Aug. 20.
The Long Beach-Yokkaichi Sister City Association will select eight students and two chaperones to accompany the students for the two-week cultural visit. This delegation from Long Beach will travel as a group and follow an itinerary developed by officials of Yokkaichi.
The city of Yokkaichi will pay all transportation expenses to and from Japan as well as housing and meals. Participants will stay one night with a Japanese host family.
Among the requirements, applicants must be citizens of the United States, possess a record of good citizenship in school and community, have a grade point average of B or better in school, be in good health and free of serious food allergies and demonstrate a danger to their personal health.
In addition, students should meet one of the following requirements: reside in Long Beach; have a parent, grandparent or guardian who works in the city of Long Beach; attend school at any Long Beach public, parochial or private accredited institution or demonstrate such contact with or involvement with the city of Long Beach so as to evidence serious concern for the environment in the Long Beach community.
Applicants must write and submit an original essay on the topic “How Long Beach and I/my family/my school are improving our environment.” Recommendations from two unrelated adults, one of whom must be a current or former teacher of the student, are also required.
Among the requirements for the chaperone positions, the applicants must be more than 25 years old, be a U.S. citizen and have demonstrated experience in working with children between 12 and 16 years of age.
Yokkaichi, a major port city and industrial complex, is located about 20 miles from Nagoya in central Japan.
For additional information and to obtain an application, contact Michael Vaughn at (562) 592-9350 or visit www.longbeach-yokkaichi.org.
