Ecuador

Annual Report 2009-2010
Social Contribution Project
By Monica Luque SWY7
Ronny Yantalema is a child that was involved in a home fire and suffers from burns to
the body. His father is a farmer and they are very poor and cannot afford the treatment to
rehabilitate the child’s burns. Donations have been made by Blanca Rosa Kacouris
(EXPY-1) and Monica Luque Castellon (EXPY-7) for the past year to the child’s family
to cover the expenses of the treatments. Recently, at the Tokyo EXPY Conference of
2009 we conducted an auction and were able to collect 41000 yens. So far with these
funds collected from the auction, the child has had a successful facial surgery and several
therapy sessions. AA delegates of other countries and expy from Ecuador have donated to
help in the rehabilitation of the child.
In the Picture Rafael Delgado SWY9, Diogenes Diaz SWY11, Blanca Rosa Kacouris SWY1, Monica
Luque Castellon SWY7 & Ronny Yantalema.
On July of 2009 a Japanese festival was held in Guayaquil, Ecuador. We were able to set
up a booth at the Japanese festival and sold items that were donated by the Japanese
colony in Chicago, and Hello Kitty items brought from Miami. Ecuadorians that will
participate in SWY 22 also contributed with donations to help the child. Ronny, has not
missed a therapy session and all the medication needed to treat the burns to the face and
body of the child has been provided to date. The child and his family visited us at the
festival and we were able to spend some time together and offer them some support, they
are very grateful.
The child will undergo another facial surgery soon, and it will take him a long time to
recover. Under these circumstances, the child is trying to enjoy his childhood and he is
back in school.
We will continue working together with AA Ecuador to help and support Ronny until he
recovers fully. Thanks for your help and support.
SWYAA Ecuador-Second General Assembly via teleconference May 2009
Last May we had a second assembly via teleconference. Thirteen expys connected from
Chicago, Miami, Guayaquil, Chile and Quito.
The coordinator for the assembly was Ana Maria Raad from SWY9. A full detailed
agenda in power point was prepared and sent with enough notice to the alumni via email.
Among the topics discussed were: the bylaws, board members, projects and selection
process for delegates to events such as Tokyo Conference.
Most of the expys connected from Quito and thanks to Pablo Corral who hosted them at
his house. In Guayaquil, Rafael Delgado and Jorge Chattin both from SWY9 gathered at
Rafael’s place.
After discussing 4 questions were prepared to be use in a poll so the rest the rest of the
members could give their opinion as well. The poll will soon take place.
Cultural Project: JAPAN FEST in GUAYAQUIL
By Rafael Delgado SWY9
After the “Gran Fiesta Japonesa” in Quito in September 2008, four expys from the Coast
thought that it would be a great idea to have a similar event in Guayaquil. During the
weekend of July 25th and 26th, the first JAPAN FEST took place at the Mall of the local
bus terminal (Outlet del Terminal Terrestre de Guayaquil). The Embassy of Japan and the
ex-participants of the Ship for World Youth in Guayaquil and Miami organized this
event.
This event included the participation of many volunteers that included the ex-participants
association, the current participating youths for the SWY22 program, locals and the
special help of Japanese Volunteers from JICA .
During the Japan Fest, that lasted 2 days, many exhibitions took place such as karate,
kendo and Jujitsu, showed by professionals that perform a very good role during the
event. All these exhibitions were highly visited and admired by the audience watch the
shows, especially children that received small flags of Japan. Also, the event was full of
color and traditions from Japan such as comics and anime of Manga films, original.
Kimono demonstration, Japanese calligraphy and origami.
The audience was waiting for their turn to write their names in Japanese (Japanese
calligraphy), the ladies wore Kimonos helped by Japanese volunteers that also were
taking pictures of the visitors that tried the kimonos; there was entertainment for the kids
that learned the art of making figures in paper (origami).
The Cosplay Dance also had a special place; this consisted in fully dressed people that
took the personality of the characters from comics; this caught the attention of young and
old.
Also, there was charity bazaar of Japanese souvenirs for Ronny, who we have been
supporting for several months because he suffered several burns all over his body, and his
family is very poor.
The result of the Japan Fest was wonderful; thousands of people attended this free event
and they learned many things about the Japanese culture. All organizers, as well as
volunteers and the delegate of the Japanese embassy, were pleasantly surprised by the
massive attendance of the public, the interest shown by the visitors, and the variety of
activities and organization of the event.
The information and important data was published in important newspapers of the city,
and was highly recognized by its citizens, qualifying the event as “very well organized,
varied and non-profit”.
The Municipality included this festival as one of the official events for the City Holidays.
http://www.guayaquil.gov.ec/index.php
A note published in Diario el Expreso Guayaquil: http://www.diario-expreso.com/
En la terminal terrestre de Guayaquil, muchas personas tuvieron ayer la oportunidad de conocer parte de la cultura
japonesa.
Japan Fest se denominó el evento que fue organizado por la Embajada de Japón, el Consulado General de Japón en
Guayaquil y la Asociación Barco para Jóvenes del Mundo-Ecuador. La distracción fue para el público en general.
No obstante, los niños y jóvenes se distrajeron con el origami -que es el arte de doblar papel- y con la presentación de
ánime o caricatura japonesa.
Mientras los adultos se fotografiaron con quimonos y llevaron escrito su nombre en caligrafía japonesa. Hubo,
además, exhibición de karate y kendo, y se mostraron vídeos de la cultura japonesa.
Blanca Rosa Kacouris, miembro de la organización del Japan Fest, destacó que el evento se desarrolló para
homenajear a la ciudad y celebrar los 90 años de amistad entre Japón y Ecuador. (MTM/JPZ July 27 2009)
Other sites for the promotion
http://kagomesashi.deviantart.com/art/Japan-Fest-128743505
http://blog.espol.edu.ec/xallam/2009/07/21/japan-fest/
http://www.ecuagamers.com/resena-japan-fest/
Other Cultural Project
Viñetas, Bits and Beats http://www.vb2.com.ec
After the Japan Fest in Guayaquil, the organization of the VB2 invited the SWYAA to
participate in the festival as a support group in charge of the Cultural Hall or Bunka Kan.
The Delegates of the SWY22 participated doing a fund raising and sweets sale and
coordinating the cultural exhibitions such as: kimono, calligraphy, martial arts, origami.
Thank you to Dr. Richard Concha for the invitation to co-organized the Bunka Kan, the
Embassy of Japan, and the Volunteers from JICA and great team effort from the SWY22
pys.
Orientation for SWY22
On August 14 and 15, the new delegates for the SWY22 program got together in
Guayaquil for their first orientation.
The Participants Youths (PYs) visited Mr. Jaime Simon, Consul General of Japan in
Guayaquil. This was the first time the group was able to meet and had fellowship.
The coordinators for the orientation were Rafael Delgado SWY9 and Diogenes Diaz NLSWY11.
They met at the Alliance Francaise in Urdesa and received an introduction to Japanese
Culture by Mr. Kuniyuki Higurashi representative of the Foundation “Balsa
Ecuatoriana”. Later, they discussed several topics in regards to their preparation as
uniforms, national presentation, and seminars.
New Web Site: http://swyaaeq.byethost33.com/index.swf
or http://www.swyaaeq.co.cc
During the visit of SWY22 to the Consul General in Guayaquil, Saulo Aroca PY SWY22
had the opportunity to introduce to him the new web site. This web site was updated and
contains a register for members and the latest news on the delegation preparation as well
as the alumni history and other relevant post program events. It also displays a collection
of photos of previous SWY programs that were sent by several expys to make this
gallery.
National Day of Japan Reception in Quito
Last December, the Alumni were invited again to attend the National Day of Japan
reception. On behalf of the President of the AA, Esteban Jimenez and Lorena Piedra
attended the event in reward to their good leadership during the SWY22 preparation.
Also Rafael Delgado SWy9 and Diogenes Diaz SWY11 were present.
Bouquets of Flowers were given to the Embassy of Japan staff and once again the alumni
were able to share joyous moments with the Ambassador, Consul General of Japan in
Guayaquil and members of the Japanese Association.
Other Highlights
Our dear friend, Pablo Corral SWY5, was invited by the IYEO special projects to
collaborate with an article for the journal ‘The Turning Point” on August, 2009.
Excellent Award at the GPC “Smile and Laughter”: The Joy of Dancing by Ana
Maria Raad SWY7 Ecuador
And with great pleasure al well, I would like to congratulate Ana Maria Raad SWY9,
because her photo from the Global Photo Exhibit “Smile and Laughter” was chosen to be
part of a series of commemoratives postcards for the IYEO.
SWY NEWS Volume 17
For those who receive the print issue of the SWY NEWS, Vol 17 Sept 2009, you can find
the reports on the Japan Fest and the decoration that the SWYAA Ecuador received last
year. Rafael Delgado SWY9 prepared this article. Also you will find collaboration from
Diego Lombeida SWY7/SWY18 on his experiences at the Galapagos Islands.
Invitation to the Change of Guards at the Presidential Palace
On October of 2009, the alumni association under the advice of Arturo Delgado SWY7
requested to the Presidential Office an invitation to attend the Ceremony of the change of
Guards at the Presidential Palace.
Our request was granted and members of the delegation from Quito and Cayambe got
together with Arturo Delgado SWY7 to attend this civic act on Monday January 4th,
2010.
In the picture: Eliana Manangon, Carla Sanchez, Saulo Aroca, Yael Piedra, Arturo
Delgado SWY7, Esteban Jimenez and Fabio Concha together with the Vice-President of
the Republic of Ecuador, Mr. Lenin Moreno.
Good wishes for a successful 2010! (Thanks Arturo!)
Arrival of the SWY 22 Ecuador Delegation to Japan
Andres Hill, Lorena Yael Piedra (ANL), Eliana Manangon, Carla Sanchez, Fabio Concha
before the Welcome Reception at Ana Hotel 2010.
Margarita Chattin (NL), Andres Hill, Paola Aviles, Allan Avendano, Eliana Manangon,
Esteban Jimenez, Lorena Yael Piedra during the orientation at Ana Hotel 2010.
Farewell To Ecuador SWY22 on board Fuji Maru
Last month, Blanca had the opportunity to fly to Japan and attend the farewell ceremony.
With ups and downs the Ecuadorian delegation was making their way to the routine of
the program.
The exciment was superb. (It was like been on Board of the Nippon Maru again!)
The Fuji Maru was about the same size and the view of Yokohama Minato Mirai great!
Sunny day!
Many pys and expys were surprised by the fact that Blanca was an expy from SWY1. So,
many said the circle was completed having expys from the first Program and PYs from
the last program present.
The Ecuadorian delegation displayed a banner with our flag and the country’s name on it
from the deck.
Great experience! we chanted SI SE PUEDE! the Ecuadorian Flags were waved from
both the Deck and the Port. Just an amazing feeling.
Buen Viaje! Ecuador 2010.
At the Japan Fest in Guayaquil: Monica Luque SWY7, Diogenes Diaz SWY11, Rafael Delgado SWY9,
Blanca Rosa Kacouris SWY1 and Hitomi Nakamura from the Embassy of Japan in Quito
Thank you to all the collaborators for the SWYAA Ecuador 2009~2010 annual
report. Cheers! Salud!
Blanca Rosa Kacouris
SWYAA Ecuador-President
http://www.swyaaeq.co.cc