YMCA of Greater Seattle launches global teen program to Taiwan

Teens Kick Off Service Learning Trips to Japan, Colombia, Senegal and Taiwan

Seattle – Leadership, Service, Discovery and Connection are four major goals of the YMCA Global Teen Leadership program, involving teens from high schools throughout greater Seattle who will gather for a Kick-Off on April 14th. 

To plant seeds of leadership and engage teens in addressing issues facing youth around the world, the Y has expanded its program with partner YMCAs in Asia, Latin America and Africa. This year the YMCA of Greater Seattle will launch a new program with the YMCA in Seattle’s sister-city Kaohsiung, Taiwan. In this program teens will volunteer with various social agencies serving youth. Visits to historical sites and cultural visits around the island of Taiwan will expose teens to the country’s rich culture, arts and beauty.

Global Teens meet monthly and for one intensive week in June to to learn about the culture, history, language and customs of the country they will visit. Teens then embark on a 14-day experience of a lifetime in Japan, Colombia, Senegal or Taiwan. The Taiwan program will include 2 weeks of additional pre-trip language and culture training. A one-month summer intensive Japanese Language program is another new addition to helping youth develop their cultural and language competencies. Upon their return, teens share their experience with the community, at school and at the YMCA annual Growing Global Connections Celebration Event in October.

The host country YMCAs provide unique experiences including coordinating home stays and teen service activities, integrating them into their youth development programs, and sharing their culture, history and community strengths and challenges.

2009 YMCA Teen trip to Kobe, Japan

As part of their program, teens will do fundraising and a local service project in our local international community. “More than half of the students could not afford this incredible opportunity without the support of scholarships and help from our community.” says Monica Quill Kusakabe, International Program Director. “These experiences help young people envision their role in the world and be competitive in the their college entrance applications.”

The program started with exchanges between the Seattle and Kobe YMCAs in 1968. Last year the Y expanded the program to Korea, Colombia and Senegal and plans are in the works for a program to mainland China and other countries in Latin America.

In a reciprocal program, the Y of Greater Seattle hosts teens from Korea, Japan and Colombia in the Seattle area in the summer and fall.

Teens interested in applying can join the Kick-Off Retreat on April 14th from 9-1:30 pm at the Downtown Seattle YMCA, 909 4th Avenue Seattle, WA 98104.

Contact Monica Quill Kusakabe for an application or to help support this program.