Asian-Pacific Children's Convention (APCC)

The 24th annual Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention (APCC) has invited a select group of 4 elementary school students (2 boys and 2 girls ages 10-11) from Georgia to be Junior Ambassadors (JAs) and travel to Fukuoka, Japan (Atlanta’s Sister City) for a 2 week cultural exchange program. The JASG will again act as the official liaison office between the APCC, the city of Fukuoka, and Atlanta's APCC delegation, and will manage all per-departure preparations for this fully funded exchange program. This year’s APCC will be held this summer from July 13 to July 25, 2012.

APCC Junior Ambassador Announcement Letter

Junior Ambassador Application

APCC Peace Ambassador Announcement Letter

Peace Ambassador Application

The deadline for submission for chaperone applications is January 27, 2012; the deadline for JA applications is February 3, 2012; the deadline for PA applications is February 11, 2012. Any applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

The APCC has been held annually since 1989 with the objectives of: 1) generating appreciation for the culture of other nations and regions; 2) promoting mutual understanding and friendship; 3) nurturing international awareness in the region through young people. The theme of the conference is “We are the BRIDGE: We connect dreams around the world.”

For more information on this year’s conference or if you know of any elementary students who would be interested in applying in future years, please contact the JASG at 404-842-1400 or jasg@mindspring.com. For more information about the APCC, please visit www.apcc.gr.jp.

BRIDGE CLUB

The BRIDGE CLUB (BC) began in 1998 as part of the preparations for the 10th APCC. Former Junior Ambassadors (JA) were invited back to Fukuoka as Peace Ambassadors (PA) and a worldwide network of APCC participants was established. Members of the BC then went back to their own countries and regions where many of them started their own BRIDGE CLUBs and began to hold regular meetings. For more information about the Bridge Club, please visit www.bcio.org.

BRIDGE CLUB MISSION
1. Foster leaders with a global perspective who will shape the world in the future
2. Build a network of "Global Citizens" free from religious, political, and economic restrictions
3. Expand the network across the world, establish a circle of friendship and work towards creating peaceful society.

Bridge Club members are eligible to become an APCC Peace Ambassadors (PA) and return to Fukuoka, Japan for a continuation of cultural exchange among the different cultures of the world.

In order to achieve these goals, the BRIDGE CLUB reaches out beyond the limits of the APCC to form a human network around the world through its local BC activities. After returning to their own countries, the Peace Ambassadors launched themselves into BC activities. Each BC has their own activities depending on local needs. For example, humanitarian assistance, cultural exchange, intercultural education and training for JAs etc. The BC also acts as an alumni association for former participants of the APCC enabling them to keep in touch and sustain their friendships throughout the world.

Clubs in Existence
Atlanta (USA), Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, Hawaii, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam.

Atlanta Bridge Club Members (APCC Year)
- Keiko Yamakawa(Chaperone, 2004)
- Bryce Doreen (2004)
- Michelle Johnson (2004)
- Nikhil Lakhanpal (2004)
- Tamar Schmidt (2004)
- Audrey Schroeder (2004)
- Jesse Siebentritt (2004)
- Shanice Smith (2004)
- Margaret Stevens (2004)
- Barbara Conrad (Chaperone, 2005)
- Glendrevious Harris (2005)
- Kane Jeeves (2005)
- Carlo Nasisse (2005)
- Ariadne Paez (2005)
- Eliza Rothstein (2005)
- Kate Ruston (2005)
- Renea Barlett (Chaperone, 2006)
- Haley Goodling (2006)
- Katie Googe (2006)
- William Minus (2006)
- Ryan Nelson (2006)
- Amine Rouchdi (2006)
- Stephanie Tan (2006)
- Lina Hernandez (Chaperone, 2007)
- Rhiannon Bruns (2007)
- Charles Harris (2007)
- Courtney Haynes (2007)
- Ryotaka Matsumoto (2007)
- Christopher Miller (2007)
- Hayley Schroeder (2007)
- Jamie Mackay (Chaperone, 2008)
- Perrin Aycock (2008)
- Emily Chiaravallot (2008)
- Andrew Jespersen (2008)
- Myles Johnson (2008)
- Kristie Liao (2008)
- Artur Tarasenko (2008)
- Charles Bowman (Chaperone, 2009)
- Tamar Schmidt (Peace Ambassador, 2009)
- Kyle Davie (2009)
- Lindsy Davis (2009)
- Brandon Fountain (2009)
- Quinn Marshall (2009)
- Jennifer Laub (Chaperone, 2010)
- Nikhil Lakhanpal (Peace Ambassador, 2010)
- Sebastian Gomez (2010)
- Leonardo Koomen (2010)
- Emma Rowe (2010)
- Julia Wolfenden (2010)
- Julia Kuipers (Chaperone, 2011)
- Stephanie Tan (Peace Ambassador, 2011)
- Clayton Eshleman (2011)
- Ansley McCoy (2011)
- Modeline Romelus (2011)
- Ismail Sanchez (2011)