About us

SWYAA Spain was founded in 2005 as the official association of Spanish alumni of the Ship for World Youth programme, run under the auspices of the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister of Japan. SWYAA Spain works with the International Youth Exchange Organization of Japan (IYEO), the Embassy of Japan in Spain and alumni associations in other countries.

The association was created to keep alive the spirit of cooperation born on the SWY programme, and it is legally registered in Spain's National Register of Associations.

SWYAA Spain is also part of the network of associations promoted by Ship for World Youth International, based in Japan. That organisation sets priorities and goals so that local initiatives always have a global dimension, and gathers and shares the activities started in each country so that they reach the whole alumni community.

In its early years, the Spanish association included in its name the Japanese kanji WA (harmony). From 2015, following an international harmonisation of the SWYAA associations promoted from Japan, several logos were put to a vote among participants of the different editions. The winner was the red and yellow ship's wheel, which has been our official logo and part of the association's identity ever since.

The mission of SWYAA Spain is to:

• Promote and facilitate communication and interaction among Ship for World Youth alumni, and keep their information up to date.
• Improve and strengthen communication and interaction among alumni associations around the world.
• Make the Ship for World Youth programme known internationally.
• Keep members informed of developments and news around the Ship for World Youth.
• Organise local and international activities to create new social, volunteering and development initiatives after the programmes.
• Facilitate communication between members of the alumni associations and the Government of Japan.
• Support and help future participants in the programme.