4-H Clubs across Manitoba shared their skills and talents at a multitude of events, festivals and parades. As well, 4-H Manitoba families were able to share the Manitoba 4-H program to 20 students from Japan in a special student exchange program between the two countries.
This summer 4-H Canada was able to return to actual hosting the youth, with ten of our province's 4-H youth able to travel to Japan, this in partnership with the York-Benimaru Foundation. The student exchange program between Canada and Japan facilitates youth mentorship to learn more about the ag industry in each other's country.
The program took a 4-year travel hiatus due to the pandemic, but the two organizations were able to revive the travel plan this summer.
“So, we were happy to send 10 of our 4-H members over to Japan and two chaperones,” shares 4-H Manitoba Executive Director, Shannon Carvey. “And then in August, we had 20 Japanese students arrive in Manitoba and they were all hosted in 4-H families' homes. So, they all got to experience two weeks with 4-H families in Manitoba."
The partnership began about 37 years ago when Canada's Department of Agriculture was working with Japan in the pork industry trade. The York-Benimaru Foundation owns a grocery store chain in Japan and saw the opportunity for Japanese youth to travel to Manitoba and learn more about Canada's Ag industry.
The York-Benimaru Foundation is supported by York-Benimaru Co., Ltd., which has more than seventy years of experience and operates 244 supermarkets as of March 2023.
Carvey says it's been a long-standing partnership between the two countries, and when travel was limited during Covid the partner families met on zoom. Carvey notes, prior to Covid, Manitoba 4-H has hosted 20 Japanese students every summer since the mid-1980's.
“And it's really a great experience," she says, "and seeing the connection that those Japanese students make with our families for two weeks, it's amazing to watch them grow and learn more English and experience Manitoba and Canadian culture. And we were just really grateful to have the opportunity to partner with the York-Benimaru Foundation. Their generosity is unmatched, and we are really grateful for the opportunity to host Japanese students and to have our members travel to Japan as well.”
“It’s pretty unreal, actually, to be able to watch it from the outside, to see the connections they make and how they grow,” adds Carvey. “When the two weeks are up and everyone is saying goodbye, there are so many tears and hugs goodbye. It’s really, really heartwarming.”
For more on the 4-H Canada and York-Benimaru Foundation homestay student exchange program please watch the YouTube video HERE!