Peace Boat is seeking Ukraine Youth Ambassadors!

The Japanese NGO Peace Boat is seeking a group of Ukraine Youth Ambassadors to travel onboard its 117th Global Voyage between April - July 2024. The Youth Ambassadors will share their perspectives as young people from Ukraine on the current situation of their country, international cooperation, and future peace and reconstruction. As well as raising awareness of the reality for people from Ukraine under the ongoing full-scale Russian military invasion, the voyage will also allow network building, capacity and skills development and empowerment of the young people, to become leaders for the future of their country, building bridges between Japan and other countries visited around the world, and for peace and sustainability.

The Peace Boat Ukraine Youth Ambassadors is a joint programme of Peace Boat and the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan.

About Peace Boat

Peace Boat is a Japan-based international NGO which promotes peace, human rights, and sustainability. Established in 1983, it holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN). Peace Boat carries out its main activities through a passenger ship that travels the world. Peace Boat’s activities onboard and in port empower participants and build people-to-people cooperation beyond borders.

Peace Boat has a long history of friendship and collaboration with partners in Ukraine, including through visits to the port city of Odesa, partnership with crew members and shipping operators from Ukraine, and hosting of dialogue events for local peacebuilders and mediators onboard our ship. Since soon after the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) has been working with partner NGOs to provide humanitarian assistance within Ukraine and to those who were forced to flee their country, including medical, food, and hygiene items.

Seeking applicants!

Are you a young Ukrainian based in Japan, interested in sharing your perspectives, raising awareness of the reality for people from Ukraine, and joining leadership and cultural exchange programmes in more than 20 countries around the world?

Peace Boat is seeking applicants as follows!

a) The applicant has knowledge and experience to be able to make presentations and/or speeches on issues related to Ukraine, including cultural, political, social or humanitarian; they should also have a strong interest in peace and humanitarian issues.
b) The applicant is motivated to learn from other participants, and willing to collaborate with others regardless of age or background.
c) The applicant has an adequate command of English to conduct (a) and (b). Ability in Japanese or other East Asian languages will also be a benefit.
e) The applicant is between the ages of 20 and 30 at the beginning of the programme.
f) The applicant is currently based in Japan.
g) The applicant is able to participate in the voyage in full, including any pre-voyage training and post-voyage programmes (potentially online). (Note: applicants only available to join part of the voyage are also welcome to contact Peace Boat to discuss modes of participation).
See here for voyage itinerary: https://peaceboat.org/english/voyage/117-voyage

Costs

The full costs of the voyage and programme, including board and accommodation for the duration of the voyage, as well as travel insurance and visa fees are covered by Peace Boat. Successful applicants will be expected to cover the costs of their transport to and from the vessel in Yokohama at the start and end of the voyage, and any personal expenses (laundry, communications etc.) during the voyage.

How to Apply

Please fill in the following application form by December 8, 2023: https://forms.gle/w9VhExpKuVxhWCgFA.
The form will also require you to submit the following:

• A 1 page essay in English sharing your background, interests, and motivation for joining this programme, including ideas of the perspectives you would like to share with participants onboard Peace Boat and in ports of call visited around the world.
• A brief CV - please list your studies/occupation from secondary school
• A scan or photo of the ID page of your passport (please include a copy of each if you hold multiple nationalities/passport)