On the 20th and 21st of February members of the Japan Local Government Centre attended the annual general meeting of the JET Alumni Association in Cardiff, Wales. The weekend consisted of various sessions during which the JLGC was able to hear all about what JET-AA had been up to over the past year. From the new website to the different activities run by chapters up and down the country, JET-AA has had a busy year!
JET-AA has an important role, supporting JETs yet to go out to Japan and lending a helping hand to those who are coming back from their time abroad and may need some extra support settling in. Their activities include information evenings for new JETs and their parents as well as Career Information Days for newly returned JETs who might not know what their next step should be.
Over 2009 and the beginning of 2010 London’s activities included receptions for both departing and returning JETs, while Wales took the opportunity to hold a hike and picnic during the brief periods of sunny weather last summer. JET-AA Scotland organised Japanese language classes for their members and organised a ceilidh. The Midlands was also very active, holding socials and organising Japanese cooking classes for its members.
All these events and many more were held over the past year. The AGM was a chance to evaluate the past year’s activities and look forward to the year ahead. The second day of meetings was also the stage for the election of this year’s JET-AA national committee as well as the AGM this year marking the return of the North-West chapter to JET-AA having previously been inactive for a brief period.
JET-AA’s mission statement from their official site is as follows:
- To provide assistance, advice and a support network to former participants of the British Exchange and Teaching Scheme (BETS) and the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme in the United Kingdom,
- To promote cultural understanding between the peoples of the United Kingdom and Japan.
- The encouragement of the JET Programme and similar educational exchanges between the United Kingdom and Japan.
This year will be the 20th Anniversary of JET-AA and will coincide with the International JET-AA AGM taking place in Edinburgh later this year.
