Ship of World Youth docks in city

Around 120 Japanese youngsters and 120 delegates from countries like Chile, India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia and many others will spend the next few days in Chennai, attending academic discourses, engaging in discussions with local youth and getting a glimpse of the local culture. 

In Chennai, these delegates will visit Kalakshetra as well as institutions like IIT Madras, Anna University and MOP Vaishnav College for Women, to engage and observe innovative initiatives on youth entrepreneurship, environment, disaster risk reduction, information and media, education and community development. 

They will be hosted by the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD). Hamid Alawadhi from UAE said that he’s excited to experience the hospitality of India. “I’ve been to India twice already and have experienced the wonderful hospitality. 

I’m looking forward to touching the local culture through interacting with people here. I think interacting with people from other cultures will give us a broader world view and enable us to be better youth leaders,” said this youngster. For Japanese student Kodai Asai, meeting youngsters from other countries and cultures was an eye-opener. 

“When we read newspapers, one gets a stereotypical view of people from other countries. But having lived and interacted with different people, I must say that I really love them,” he said. Muizz Al-Aradi from Bahrain. said, “I’ve heard so much about Indian food and I can’t wait to try it. 

I hope it’s not too spicy.” For Indian delegate Sweety from UP, it was a homecoming of sorts. “I’m happy to be back in my country. I’m looking forward to introduce our culture to my friends here,” she said.