Guidelines for applicants from countries/regions with an established BRIDGE CLUB

The APCC will invite former Junior Ambassadors as ‘Peace Ambassadors (PAs)’ to the 22nd APCC during the summer of 2010. PAs will exchange ideas about BRIDGE CLUB (BC) activities and tighten their friendships through various activities in Fukuoka during the APCC invitation project. If you are interested in participating in the 22nd APCC as a PA, please read the following guidelines thoroughly and apply to come back to Fukuoka!

Schedule of the 22nd APCC:

From July 16th (Fri.), 2010 to July 27th (Tue.), 2010

Objectives:

1. To foster leaders with a global perspective who promote or launch BRIDGE CLUB activities in your local community.
2. To build and expand a friendship network with the participants and people of Fukuoka.
3. To support the Junior Ambassadors as a role model in your delegation.

Participation Criteria:

• Must have taken part in APCC between 1989 (the 1st APCC) and 2005 (the 17th APCC) as a Junior Ambassador (JA).
* Those who have already been PAs are NOT eligible for selection.
• Must currently participate in the activities of the BC in your country, or to have a strong willingness and enthusiasm toward becoming active.
  1.To manage the BC as the next president. (If you cannot be a president because of your BC’s regulations, take other leadership role.)
  2.Must be able to stay in your home country and continue to participate in BC activities at least ONE YEAR after the APCC Invitation Project.
• Should be recommended by the Liaison Office or BC in your country to satisfy this requirement in the application.
• Should have ideas about BC and be able to express them Well in English.
• As a leader of the BC, to interact with other participants and build the network of friendships with them.
• Must be willing to help Liaison Officers and chaperons in preparing JAs for their trip to Japan, and act as a good leader. This may include telling the JAs about your experience as a JA and helping them to understand the objectives of APCC.
• To adhere to the whole APCC schedule and fully participate in the program designated for PAs. Please refrain from taking part in transactions designed for personal gain or any activities that fall outside the APCC/BCIO objectives (ex. Commercial transactions, religious missions, etc). *Requests such as extending your stay or changing of your host family for personal reasons will not be accepted
• Must adhere to the RULES as noted below:
  1.Not to pester your Host Family to take you sightseeing or shopping unless the family is willing to.
  2.Parents/relatives are not allowed to accompany the PA to Fukuoka.
  3.Must adhere to the rules laid down by your Host Family. Unless in an emergency situation, to refrain from contacting friends/family via telephone, email, etc. during the PA program and your homestay.
  4.Do not leave your delegation during the journey to and from Fukuoka, or while staying in Fukuoka.
  

If applicants do not meet this criteria (ex. cannot speak English well, will be away from his/her home country after the PA invitation program, etc.), we may choose to cancel the applicant’s invitation, even after the selection has been made.

Selection Process: BRIDGE CLUB Nomination

< Applications must reach the BCIO Head Office via the Liaison Office by February 28th, 2010.>

Applicant:

• Contact a president or representative of your BC in your country/region and tell him/her your intention, and get instruction/information about the application process from BC officers. The BC officers will have responsibility to forward the PA nominees to the Liaison Office. *Each BC’s contact information is on the BCIO website (http://www.bcio.org/). Please click your country/region and get the information if you do not know it.

BRIDGE CLUB officers:

• Submit all nominees’ application documents to the Liaison Office. *Each BC can select a maximum of 4 nominees.

Liaison Office:

• Send the nominees’ application documents to the BCIO Head Office. The documents need to arrive at the BCIO Head Office by February 28th, 2010.

BCIO Head Office:

• February 28th, 2010: Collect all nominee applications
• March 2010: Selection of PAs and announcement of results to Liaison Offices

Liaison Office:

• Inform all nominees of the results.
• Have selected PAs fill out the required Information forms and Medical Certificates, and return them to the BCIO Head Office.
• Have selected PAs join in the JA training and inform them of necessary information, such as a flight schedules.

Selected PAs:

• Start preparation for the Convention with the BCIO and the delegation in your country/region, keeping in constant contact with the Liaison Office.
• Submit documents and reply to e-mails by the deadlines assigned by the BCIO Head Office or the Liaison Office.
• PAs will be invited to join a “Mailing List” and should actively participate in conversations with the other PA.

Advertisement for the PA Invitation:

BCIO will advertise the PA Invitation Program through the following channels:

1. BCIO / APCC website (BCIO: http://www.bcio.org APCC: http://www.apcc.gr.jp/)
2. BRIDGE CLUB mailing list
3. APCC Liaison Offices

Necessary Documents for PA Application:

Any applications that do not meet these guidelines, (ex. incomplete or missing documents, submitted past the deadline, using an old Application Form, and so forth.) will not be accepted.

The following documents are required for PA application:

1. Application Form (Must use the Application Form for BC countries.) Download the application form from the BCIO / APCC website or ask the Liaison Office in your country/region. * Please send an email to office@bcio.org and request for the APCC Liaison Office contact information if you do not know it. Be careful not to use the old version Application Form.




2. Short Essay (1 page, A4-sized paper, should be TYPED or sent ELECTRONICALLY)
   Theme: “How has the APCC changed your life?”
3. Two Letters of Recommendation
   One Letter must be written by the president of your BC.
   It is preferable that the other reference be written by a teacher or employer.
4. Curriculum Vitae / Resume of Personal History

The APCC or your Host Family will cover the following PA expenses:

1. Round-trip airfare including airport tax between Fukuoka and the airport of departure as chosen by the APCC.
2. Transportation within Japan as designated by the APCC or your Host Family.
3. Accommodation in Japan or abroad as designated by the APCC or your Host Family.
4. Meals during the entire stay in Fukuoka

Insurance for injury and illness during the APCC:

1. The APCC will purchase an insurance policy for each participant.
2. The insurance will cover the participants for all injuries and illnesses incurred during the trip.
3. The coverage will begin when the participants leave the designated airport and will run continuously until they arrive back at the airport upon completion of the APCC.
   
   ＊Dental treatment and chronic illness such as asthma are NOT covered by this insurance policy. Thus, any expenses incurred and the medicine for the chronic illness will need to be covered by the individual, not by the APCC. If you have some medicine you take for the chronic illness, please make sure to bring it to Japan.

We plan to implement a registration fee for Peace Ambassadors within the range of $10-30 (US dollars) for each. The fee amounts are decided by the APCC office, and are different depending on the countries/regions. Please ask your Liaison Office for more information. *Please send an email to ask for your Liaison Office’s contact information to office@bcio.org if you do not know it.

Contact: BCIO Head Office
(c/o The Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention in FUKUOKA)
1-10-1-5F Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0001 Japan
TEL: +81-92-734-7700 FAX: +81-92-734-7711
E-mail: office@bcio.org
BCIO Website: http://www.bcio.org
APCC Website: http://www.apcc.gr.jp/

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