TWENTY-FIVE young Jamaicans who will be taking part in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) were treated to a send-off reception party held at the St Andrew residence of the Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica Yasuo Takase, recently.

“This year’s group holds special meaning, given the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries,” Ambassador Takase said.

Gregory Gordon, who provided the night’s entertainment, himself an alumnus of the programme, also spoke to the historic significance of the 2014 group.

“When I first went to Japan on the JET programme, there were only 13 of us. Now that’s almost doubled, and the level of the Japanese I heard tonight is amazing,” Gordon added.

The twenty-five particpant of this year’s programme are Aneika Angus, Nikkisha Baugh, Tia Braham, Craig Dixon, Nneka Gaynor, Mario Grant, Audley Green, Sania Green, Janiel Hazle, Jody-Ann Hines, Leveth Jackson, Ashford Kerr, Roxann Lawrence, Prudence Marson, Temu Moore, Marc Mundy, Rodney Newby, Rochelle Robinson, Kenrick Sharpe, Jessica Silvera, Kerrian Thompson, Tamla Walker, Nicola Williams, Kadeen Wright, and Seccola Youton.

They will depart for Tokyo on July 26 for the minimum of a full year as assistant English language teachers assigned to schools across Japan.

Started in 1987, JET offers college and university graduates the opportunity to serve in local government organisations as well as various school settings. This facilitates cultural and language exchange between the participating countries and Japan.

The programme continues to boast several successes as it aids to strengthen the ties between countries.