Swiss International Air Lines to support a traveling program to Switzerland for students affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is to support a home stay program to Switzerland from “Support Our Kids” that is a supporting a program for children affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The “Support Our Kids” program has started in July 2011 and it has sent out 410 middle to high school students to various countries for home staying since then. In 2019, their destination is Switzerland and SWISS is to support seven students for their travel together with the Swiss Embassy. A ceremony has taken place at the Swiss Embassy with the students on March 22, 2019.

At the ceremony, the Ambassador Jean-François Paroz of the Swiss Embassy introduced the program followed by a presentation by the seven students. 

The Ambassador Paroz says: “We were very excited when we heard that Switzerland became the destination of the program this year. Switzerland is a permanent neutral country that has been advocating the importance of the worlds’ recovery and peace. So, we would like those students to learn and experience our history and culture through visits to museums, railroad tours and others, together with a special visit to the International Olympic Committee, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies and the United Nations Office at Geneva. We also wish that they share their stories with people in Switzerland.” 

Don Bunkenburg, Senior Director, Japan and Korea of Lufthansa Group Airlines that operates SWISS comments: “We are very honored to support students in the Tohoku region this way. It is our honor to contribute to the recovery of the region. A major characteristic of Switzerland is hospitality. I am positive that the students will already feel that spirit and welcomed to Switzerland while boarding the SWISS airplane. Through the 2-weeks home stay program, we would like the students to communicate with local people proactively and gain valuable experience.“