KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Eight Jamaicans will type this yr’s cohort of individuals within the Japan Trade and Educating (JET) Programme.
Minister of International Affairs Kamina Johnson Smith congratulated the individuals, representing the twenty fifth cohort, earlier this week, noting that they’re becoming a member of a distinguished legacy.
The group consists of seven assistant language academics (ALTs) and the primary sports activities change advisor (SEA), Olympian, Christine Day.
Johnson Smith, who was talking at a send-off reception held on the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence, stated JET stands as a testomony to the energy and longevity of the bilateral ties between the international locations.
“For greater than six a long time, our Japan-Jamaica partnership has been grounded in strong cooperation throughout key sectors, together with schooling, tradition, well being, safety, defence, data and communications expertise (ICT), local weather change, and capability improvement. A lot of this assist is facilitated by Japan’s abroad improvement help, administered by Japan Worldwide Cooperation Company (JIICA),” she famous.
She added that the energy of the partnership between the nations can be evidenced within the strong people-to-people engagements and programmes.
“This partnership displays our mutual dedication to improvement and, notably, by way of the empowerment of our individuals to understand their fullest potential. So, we’re happy additionally to welcome our Japanese companions who’re members of the Abroad Cooperation Volunteers Programme,” she stated.
Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, Yasuhiro Atsumi, congratulated the eight individuals, noting that they’ve demonstrated unimaginable potential and expertise.
He knowledgeable that one of many language academics has been in Japan since April, and an extra participant, who was lately chosen, will depart the island in August.
He famous that because the starting of the Jamaica JET Programme in 2000, roughly 460 individuals have labored as ALTs in Japanese faculties.
A lot of them have returned to the island and joined the JET Alumni Affiliation of Jamaica, enjoying a necessary position in strengthening the Japan-Jamaica relationship and partnership, he famous.
“They’re the bridges between Japan and Jamaica,” he stated.
Atsumi stated that this yr’s reception is a particular one as a result of it’s the send-off of the primary SEA, and lauded Senator Johnson Smith for the instrumental position she performed within the formation of the brand new part of the programme.
Minister of Tradition, Olivia Grange, stated JET continues to be a unprecedented alternative for Jamaicans to expertise one other tradition whereas contributing meaningfully to the enduring friendship between the international locations.
She stated the addition of the SEA part of the programme represents a ahead motion that solidifies the long-standing partnership.
“We proceed to reveal that sports activities generally is a bridge between cultures that transcends efficiency and competitors. Sports activities function a strong car for change, for optimistic outcomes and for constructing bridges each domestically and globally,” she added.
Day stated she is honoured to be the primary SEA participant and is dedicated to setting a robust basis for future advisors.
ALT participant Amani Cooke expressed gratitude to the Governments of Jamaica and Japan for his or her dedication to the programme, in addition to to all of the stakeholders who’ve been integral to its success.
“We sit up for studying, not solely from the Japanese individuals but additionally the opposite JETs from everywhere in the globe, and when it’s time for us to return, we’ll carry these classes with us,” she stated.
The JET Programme presents extremely certified college graduates the chance to work as assistant language academics or coordinators for worldwide relations in choose native authorities places of work in Japan.
