Students attend convention in Japan

 FOUR primary school students from the National Capital District are in Fukuoka, Japan, for the 25th Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention (APPC).

APPC is a non-profit organisation that continues to organise grassroots intercultural exchange since 1989.

It is a civic movement which is funded by the local government as well as donations from corporate sponsors and supporters associations.

It aims to foster worldwide citizens who are able to think of the world beyond national boundaries and strive for World Peace and co-existence.

As junior ambassadors for PNG, the four will participate in gaining mutual understanding of different cultures and traditions through home stay and cultural exchange activities in the two week-long programme. 

They travelled with ex-participants and Bridge Club PNG (BCPNG) members and chaperon and other delegates to participate at the convention. 

BCPNG vice president Martha Okoa said the role of BCPNG is to fulfill the APCC mission to train the junior ambassadors before they depart for the meeting.

She said there was a huge financial loss at the 19th APCC and PNG was then terminated from taking part in 2006. 

However, through communications between the convention and BCPNG, PNG was invited back in with only four participants as students.

The four are: Jeremiah Kianda Talin and Kurtley Niali both attending Carr Memorial Primary School, while Lynneth Maluk Kere and Annagrace Parsley Ando attend Gerehu Primary School.