Happy Holidays

The peruvian delegation of the SWY24 wished all of you Happy Holidays. I hope this can be a time for family and friends to get together and spend quality time.

Best Wishes!

Meeting with Japanese Consul General in Peru

On monday 12 of december the peruvian delegation visited the Japanese Embassy in Peru. First we headed to do our paperwork for the visa which was pleasant and fast. After that we had a scheduled meeting with the Japanese Consul General in Peru Mr. Yasushi Imai and the Cultural Attaché Mrs. Naomi Kuroda, which in fact was one of the responsible that we're here as PY. This was our first protocolar meeting. We greeted one by one to both Japanese representatives and exchanged presentation cards. Then we sat at long dark wood table and had a conversation time with the Consul General. He started by saying some words about the importance of this journey and the bridge that we are going to create between other countries. Formal in his way, we also had some times where we would laugh at the great sense of humor that he has. After that, each of the peruvian delegation members presented themselves starting with our National Leader Hiroshi Hironaka. Followed by both the Assistant Leaders and then the rest of us. Finally, we received best wishes from the embassy and departed the place.

We are very grateful for all the support that we've been getting by the Japanese Embassy and we are more than sure we are going to prove that we are a great delegation.

This foto was taken during the National Presentation we did on saturday 17 of december. The guests where the Consul General and wife, Cultural Attaché and husband, and all our family and friends. We are wearing our peruvian uniform.

SWY FEST 2011

Last Sunday we organized the SWY FEST 2011. A concert with the goal to raise some money and have a good time. It was a huge success. Our performers where in fact members of our delegation. I think that is a remarkable thing. We got talent in the team!

It started with the talented musical skills of our National Leader Hiroshi and the beautiful voice of Andrea.  Followed by a traditional japanese songs that was sang by Hiroshi and played by an ex-PY using a traditional japanese instrument. After that, the Wavestones (a band where Paul is a member) delighted us with their own composed songs. Finally to close the night, all the SWY24 peruvian delegation stepped on stage and gave some brief words of how they felt being part of this group. Then we all joined together to sing and play an awesome song.

This really was an emotional night. Family and friends all together with the sole purpose of helping us while having a good time.

As you can see, the SWY24 Peru delegation has plenty of artistic talent that will come very handy in the program.

We invite you to look at our pictures below from the SWY FEST 2011.

Voluntary Activity @ "UN DIA DE ESPERANZA"

On Sunday 13 of november we visited an association called "UN DIA DE ESPERANZA" that means "ONE DAY OF HOPE". In this place boys and girls from 5  to 17 years old that are HIV-positive gather. They are afflicted by this decease and keeping their hopes up is what this place is all about. The people in this organization are doing a great job.

So we decided that we wanted to visit them and learn their situation. We organized activities that all could relate to. Starting with an improv game that quickly helped memorize that names of all of us. Then we did another game that was really fun that consisted in becoming a object or person and then rapidly someone else had to join in and compliment the scene. After this group games, we splitter in smaller teams. While some learn how to play peruvian instruments others learned how to Latin Dance. Then we had a great party with all that had been learned.

Then at noon we had lunch. Pepe using his cooking mastery prepared all of us an entrée and a main course. We all enjoyed it and specially the kids. We ate a lot.

This place has much to offer this kids and they are just beginning. In a near future they will be able to accommodate them here, so they can live and receive their treatment all in the same location.

This was just one of the many Voluntary Activities that we have planned. We wish to come back soon and help them out to set up the place for the kids.

We are getting ready for the National Presentation!

Our rehearsals are becoming funner each time we practice. We get to dances a lot and play tons of typical music! This time, we tried out our new red and white jackets and t-shirts and took a great picture as the peruvian flag, which was a gift of our sponsor Cuy Arts. Check out their Web Site, you’ll find awesome products!

Visit to the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru - IDEHPUCP

On november 2nd the Peruvian Delegation visited the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru - IDEHPUCP, where we received an interesting lecture in charge of Proffesor José Alejandro Godoy.

The lecture was about the political violence situation that underwent Perú between 1980 and the year 2000, that left a painful balance of serious crimes and violations to human rights, and about the work of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission that was created in 2001 as the instance in charge of clarifying the process and facts occurred, and proposing initiatives to strengthen peace and reconciliation among all Peruvians.

The IDEHPUCP was created as an University initiative "aimed at strengthening the rule of law, citizenship, the full effectiveness of human rights and institutions proper of a democratic system in Peru, through the dissemination, rising of awareness and generation of academic venues and non-partisan political reflection forums".

IDEHPUCP donated documentation about the political violence and the work of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission that will be socialized with participants of the SW24.

If you want to know more about IDEHPUCP, you are welcome to visit their site: www.idehpucp.edu.pe

Preparatory work - First meetings

The work meetings of the Peruvian Delegation began on September 19th, a few days after we received one of the best news of our lives: that we had been chosen to represent our country in the 24th Ship for World Youth!

We started meeting twice a week and distributed the responsibilities so that every one of us will be in charge of one of the activities that we have to carry on in the ship.

But, in mid-October, we realized that we had to push harder, so we began to gather four times a week to plan and rehearse our National Presentation, design our uniform, think about probable sponsors and get to know ourselves a little bit better.

So far, we are becoming experts on dances from the Peruvian jungle and the rhythms of the African-Peruvian community, so prepare for what you will see in the ship!

We are taking care of the last details of the script and beginning to produce all the material that we will need to amaze you all.

Up to date, we are looking for more sponsors that would help us share the wonders of Peru with the other 12 delegations on SWY 24.

Peruvian Delegation Logo

Our logo, is based in the iconography of the majestic walls that surround the beautiful citadel of Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in Latin America and since 1986 declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

This citadel is located in the peruvian northern coast and it was constructed by the pre-Inca culture Chimu. Their beautiful walls are decorated by fish and bird figures, they represent their strong relationship with the sea.

Just like our destination is Japan, which flag is represented by the Hinomaru (the sun’s circle); our historical origins is Chan Chan, which in spanish means “the magnificent sun”. The fish, chimu iconography, represent our relationship with the sea and our identification with the Ship of World Youth’s culture and program.

Logo designed by Mikel Hoyle

Meet the Delegates: Maria Paula Brito

Maria Paula Brito (25)

Hello PYs! I am Maria Paula, I am 25 years old and am a political scientist. Peru is a multicultural country, and my curiosity in its diversity has lead me to give my discipline an anthropological twist, working with indigenous communities of the Peruvian Amazon and promoting intercultural dialogue. I love to travel, play capoeira, dance and en general enjoy life and its most simple beauties and its many mysterious surprises. I am a firm believer in what youth is capable of; in my country Political Science is a new career, and I have worked strongly in constructing its identity through youth collective action and academic investigation. My desire as a participant in the SWY program is to become part of an international youth community who feels change is possible, who doesn’t see barriers or frontiers, who has the courage and drive to work for common dreams. When I heard about the SWY program I was breath taken. During this experience, I know we will be amazed, that we will grow together, and that we will live a life changing experience that defies the obstacles of multiculturalism and makes it a reality and a spirit brotherhood.

Meet the Delegates: Paul Hoyle

Paul Hoyle (20)

Hey, I´m Paul. I´m a 20 years old musician and I love doing any kind of sports. Since before I exist, my life have been related to music. It´s my main passion.

Also, one of my passions is travelling. I believe this is one the best ways of learning about other cultures and really understand the diversity of thoughts, ways of living, etc. and through this, improve the way of living beetween all the people around the world.

I´m now studying music in the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas and I´m looking forward to learn and share all of our experiences with the other participants in the SWY and continue helping in the improvement of my country.

Meet the Delegates: Angie Portugal

Angie Portugal (28)

Moral values such as respect, honesty and responsibility, I have been taught from an early age, but within all those values that I possess as a person but which I find most rewarding is the "Volunteer". My parents taught me that volunteering is the way to be happy, making someone else happy, so I decided to join the Girl Guides Movement.

My outgoing personality, cheerful and open mind makes me a great volunteer and friend, always ready to cooperate and do everything possible to accomplish the goals I have outlined well in my personal life as part of the Girl Guide Movement. Another aspect that defines me is that I like to experience new things and meet new people from different cultures.

Meet the Delegates: Gabriel Chaman

Gabriel Chaman Salas (25)

During my life I realized that one of the principal issues that promote violence and intolerance in my country is poverty and lack of opportunities. I recognized that most of the poor population in the Andean and Amazon countries comes from the rural areas. As a responsible of “Rural Andean Peasant School of Agro business” of the NGO REDAR PERU my dream is to develop a social and economic star ups to generate new Clusters which will have to involve local people, natural and cultural resources, government and private sector to made it sustainable and also to show it as an example of how can rural people can empower themselves using approaches based on sustainable development but without forgetting their ancient knowledge.

Meet the Delegates: Jaime Sotomayor

Jaime Raúl Sotomayor (25)

I’m a self-motivated entrepreneur with the drive to create new things that will improve the way we live. I lead an interdisciplinary team that develops new global solutions. I studied system engineering in the Universidad de Lima and now I'm a teacher in this same place. I have experience working in corporations such as Siemens, PwC and IBM. Also, I’ve founded two small technology firms. At the moment I’m working at Asix, a technology company that develops web solutions for the most important peruvian firms. I have great interest in learning about such variety of cultures from their own people.

Meet the Delegates: Andrea Kovacs

Andrea Kovacs Fernández (24)

Most of my passions are related to arts. I studied the career of architecture and I´m very interest in any chance of designing. Also I´ve studied singing, dancing, and acting.

My curiosity for the world is always awake; one of my greatest passions is traveling. I found in it the best way for learning and growing; the way it opens your mind and let you interact with other cultures and people always amused me. I believe that if we learn more about others cultures we could be more tolerant and respectful and that’s the only way for having a world without boundaries.

Meet the Delegates: Miguel Montañez

Miguel Montañez Rojas (25)

My name is Miguel Montañez and I was born 25 years ago. I studied at San Ignacio de Loyola University and finished my career in Economics in 2008. In 2010 I started my graduate studies in Social Management at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Nowadays, I work for the Peruvian government at the Prime’s Minister Office, specifically at the Interministerial Comission of Social Affairs, organization in charge of the social policy in Peru.

In addition to these aspects of my life, I’ve participated in leadership programs oriented to young people as part of the YMCA Peru. Moreover, I’ve been a member of the staff of several volunteer programs developed by Junior Achievement Peru, YMCA Peru and my undergraduate studies university. All this background has led me the strong believe in the power of young people to make a difference.

Meet the Delegates: Alejandra Costa

Alejandra Costa La Cruz (29)

I am 29 years old business journalist who writes for a living, but would rather live for writing. I think that one of the most marvelous things of life is that we are all different and that every time we meet someone, we get a sneak peak of their nature and learn something. I work for the most important Peruvian newspaper El Comercio, and I am looking forward to study a Master degree on Gender, Media and Communication, which is my main passion. I believe that we should all work to address women’s rights, cause no matter how discriminated or violented a population is by the rest of humanity, women will always be discriminated and violented inside that population. I love reading, traveling, cooking and listening to music.

Meet the Delegates: Alexandra Gutiérrez

Alexandra Gutiérrez Traverso (19)

Hi everybody!!! My name is Alexandra, I’m 19 years old and I’m the youngest of the Peruvian delegation! I’m studying Entrepreneurial Engineering at the Universidad del Pacífico! I have so many hobbies I would like to share with all the PY’s. I love music! That’s why I play the trumpet, the drums, the congas and the cajon, which is a Peruvian instrument! Also I love to practice rock climbing! So if you’re interested in coming to Perú and practice adventure sports let me know! Finally I would be delighted to transmit the Peruvian culture, such as its gastronomy, music and its variety of unexplored landscapes! And also be an agent of change for my country helping in its improvement and participating constantly in activities that can make an impact in society.

Meet the Delegates: Gina Pancorbo

Gina Pancorbo Valdivia (27)

I have always been passionate about traveling and meeting new people from different cultures and social contexts. Because of this curiosity, I am very interested in social research which led me to study about intercultural relations, discrimination and racism in Peruvian context.

I currently work as Program Specialist at UNESCO, where I coordinate social science and educational programs. One of them, which I like the most, aims to strengthen capacities of peer educators from youth organizations for preventing stigma and discrimination against vulnerable population (HIV, sexual diversity). At the Organization, I am also Gender and HIV/Aids Focal Point, from where I support the implementation of UNESCO’s Priority Gender Equality and the Gender Equality Action Plan and participate in the United Nations Gender and HIV/Aids Groups.

Hiroshi Hironaka - NL

Hiroshi Hironaka (24)

Hi everybody..!! My name is Hiroshi Hironaka Yamagusuku, I am 24 years old. I`m a Business manager, currently working as a financial senior analyst. In my free time, I like to play guitar with my band, going out with my friends and learn more about the Lima Stock Market.

I participated 3 years ago in SWY 21, this was such an amazing experienced and I learned so much from my friends around the world.

Now, Im coming back on board as National Leader and trying to do my best to guide successfully the Peruvian delegation through this amazing experience.

My expectations for this program are develop as a person and gain experience from the cultural diverse , in order to support my community and create more efficient youth international networking thought the SWYAA.

Meet the Delegates

We are 11 future and current leaders that are very proud to have been chosen by the Japanese Embassy in Peru to take a little piece of Peru with us on the ship and share it with the other 11 delegations. The delegation is formed by architects that are also singers, economic engineering students that also climb mountains, and musicians, communicators, economists and administrators that also want to change the world.

Come and meet us!

Welcome!!

We love to welcome you to the blog of the Peruvian Delegation for the 24th Ship for the World Youth Program. In this page we will publish all the information regarding our preparation to represent Peru on this worldwide leadership program sponsored by the Japanese Government.

We hope you will be interested in our dreams, efforts, frustrations and successes during the four months that we will have to wait to embark on the Fuji Maru on January 18th 2012.

Enjoy!