The Japanese Youth Exchange Program at Essex High School has been a long-running cultural and educational program between Tottori prefecture in Japan and Essex High School. From virtual meetings, in-person exchanges, and leadership from students, this program aims to create a cross-cultural understanding, friendships, and a global sense of connection.
The Youth Exchange Program is organized by the Youth Exchange Committee and the Green Across the World (GaWT). The students exchange ideas and culture through virtual meetings and exchange opportunities.
Krrish Magar is a senior at Essex High School and is the EHS Student President of the Youth Exchange Program.
“The program serves as a connection between the sister states of Vermont and Tottori prefecture,” Magar said.
Every April, EHS and Burlington High School students have the opportunity to visit Japan through the exchange created by Green Across the World. The students are enrolled in Japanese classes and learn about Japanese culture through their host families and numerous field trips they will take during their visit to Japan.
Students are eligible to apply for this exchange if they are part of the Japanese Exchange Committee or the STEM program. They will be selected through a process that ensures the participants show strong interest and motivation.
The exchange began before the official Vermont-Tottori sister state agreement was signed in July 2018. EHS Japanese teacher and program leader Yukari Dougherty explained that the Youth Exchange Committee was created to help students build meaningful relationships across cultures.
“The passion and energy of the Youth Exchange Committee became a driving force behind the creation of the sister states commission,” Dougherty said.
In addition to the spring trip, Japanese students from Tottori prefecture visit Vermont in late October. During the visit, they are hosted by EHS and BHS students. The visiting students visit classes and experience American culture. These students are welcomed with a party and are followed by a farewell party at the end of their visit.
EHS Senior and co-president of the EHS Japanese National Honor Society Ben Lang has been involved in the exchange for three years.
“In just ten days, I was able to become friends with almost all of the visiting students,” Lang said.
For many students, it’s more than just an opportunity to travel and explore. It is a way to expand, build new friendships, learn new cultures, and grow as global citizens. From virtual meetings or in-person exchanges, this program connects people who may have never seen each other and leaving a lasting impact.
“If all people participate in the same kind of personal connections with people from other places, it would be so much easier for the world to work together to solve issues that affect us all,” Lang said.
