.

Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A young woman from the NWT recently had the trip of a lifetime in Japan and on the Pacific Ocean.

Candice Lys, 26, was among 11 delegates from across Canada who joined others from around the globe in the 21st Ship for World Youth (SWY) program.

Candice Lys is surrounded by schoolchildren in Tonga during the recent Ship for World Youth cultural exchange program. photo courtesy of Candice Lys

"I really believe it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do this kind of thing," Lys said.

The trip is part of an international cultural exchange program – for people aged 18 to 30 – organized and fully funded by the government of Japan.

Most of the two-month program is conducted on board the cruise liner Nippon Maru.

There are also activities in Japan – including an orientation session and a stay at a Japanese home – and at various ports of call in the Pacific.

"The experiences we had were just amazing," Lys said, adding that includes getting to know other delegates while on the cruise ship. "It's really interesting to see how everyone interacts with different cultures and languages."

More than 270 youth from 13 countries participated in the exchange to learn about international co-operation and understanding.

Along with Japan and Canada, this year's participants came from Venezuela, Peru, Egypt, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Mauritius and Norway.

"Now I have friends right across the globe," Lys said.

She boarded the cruise ship on Jan. 22 in Japan and returned 40 days later on March 3.

In between, the ship visited Vanuatu, Tonga and New Zealand.

During four days or so in each country, the participants would visit dignitaries, schools and various institutions and sites.

"Every day was jam-packed," said Lys, a Yellowknife resident who grew up in Fort Smith.

While on the exchange, she was the only Canadian delegate from north of Edmonton and tried to educate the other young people, including Canadians, about the North.

"I tried to speak a lot about aboriginal issues," said Lys, who is of Metis heritage.

She is currently completing a master's degree in health promotion from Dalhousie University in Halifax, and is starting a new job this week with the Arctic Health Research Network in Yellowknife.