Asian-Pacific Children's Convention (APCC)

The 21st annual Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention (APCC) has invited a selected group of four elementary school students (ages 10-11) from Georgia to be Junior Ambassadors (JAs) traveling to Fukuoka, Japan (Atlanta’s Sister City) for a cultural exchange program. The Society is again acting as the official liaison office between the APCC, the city of Fukuoka, and the State of Georgia, and is managing all pre-departure preparations for this year’s JAs. This year’s APCC will be held this summer from July 8th to July 22nd.

As Georgia’s liaison office, the Society is proud to announce this year’s delegation of JAs: Kyle Davie, Lindsy Davis, Brandon Fountain, and Quinn Marshall. This year’s delegation from Georgia will join more than 300 other JAs from around the world for two weeks of culture and language exchange, home-stays, sightseeing, and sporting events in Fukuoka. With the delegation, the JASG will also send a chaperone, Mr. Charles Bowman, who is currently an International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) Coordinator for Fernbank Elementary School. He is a 2004 Fulbright Scholar and traveled to Japan on a scholarship exchange with the program.

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 next year, please contact the JASG at 404-842-1400 or jasg@mindspring.com.

BRIDGE CLUB

The BRIDGE CLUB (BC) began in 1998 as part of the preparations for the 10th APCC. Former Junior Ambassadors (JA) were invited beck 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.

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

BC Atlanta, BC Hong Kong, BC Philippines, BC Thailand, BC Malysia, BC Indonesia, BC Vietnam, BC Bangladesh, BC Pakistan, BC Buthan, BC India, BC Nepal, BC Mongolia, BC Sri Lanka, BC Australia, BC New Zealand, BC Kiribati, BC Papua New Guinea, BC Vanuatu, BC Myanmar, BC Russia, BC Maldives

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)