Over $10K spent for student exchange programs in FY2011

For fiscal year 2011, the Saipan Mayor’s Office incurred a total of $10,790.73 in expenses for its student cultural exchange program as of Aug. 22.

“This amount does not include the overtime wages and fuel costs (pending breakdown invoice from PSS) and manpower hours from Mayor’s Office staff,” the office stated in a report submitted to the Legislature.

Of the total amount, about 45 percent or $4,840.50 was spent for hotel accommodations while 41 percent was used for food and water. The remaining amount was used for tent and vehicle rentals as well as gifts for the students.

For over 30 years, the Saipan Mayor’s Office has promoted friendship, respect, peace, and mutual understanding between Saipan and other countries like Japan and Korea through its student cultural exchange program and sister city relationship, even partnering with other organizations to coordinate the students’ visit.

These exchange programs and sister city agreements include the KSKK or the International Youth Association of Japan, the Sanpo-en Student Cultural Exchange Group, Itoda Group, P,Art Academy, Saipan Junior Chamber, and the Saipan Business Language Institute.

The Sanpo-en Student Cultural Exchange Group is the longest running exchange group, having been around for over 30 years. The group, founded by High Priest Kansho Kayaki and coordinated by his brother Susumu Kayaki, is composed of about 25 to 50 students aged 11 to 17 per visit.

Each year, students and chaperones of the Sanpo-en group launch hundreds of lanterns to sea at one of Saipan’s beaches to remember those who perished during World War II.

Participants of the various student cultural exchange programs go sightseeing during their stay, visiting popular historic and tourist sites such as the Banzai Cliff, Last Command Post, Suicide Cliff, Mt. Tapochao, the Old Japanese Jail, American Memorial Park, and Mañagaha Island.

Some of these students are also accommodated by host families while on island to learn more about the local culture.

“The Student Cultural Exchange Program under the Office of the Mayor of Saipan is beneficial to everyone in our community and economy. With the growing number of exchange groups coming to our islands, it proves to be a successful program that should be supported more by our local government,” the report states.

Three more student cultural exchange groups from Japan are expected to arrive in November and December, the report added.