A FESTIVAL celebrating stories and relationships from around the world, is looking for memories of those who took part in an exchange programme.

The Japanese Youth Exchange was a hugely successful project that ran from 1990 to 2019. Participating students across Flintshire welcomed families from Murata, in Japan into their homes.

For two weeks activities and excursions were planned for around the county, celebrating Welsh culture.

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The Welsh students would then visit Japan to learn and practice the Japanese language as well as celebrate their culture.

The exchange was sponsored initially by a donation from Optec, a Japanese company that had a facility in Buckley, and also by many local organisations over time. This provided once in a lifetime opportunities but sadly the Trust came to an end in 2022 as further funding was not available.

The board of trustees said: "The youth exchange was a wonderful opportunity for all involved, friendships were made, and many bonds developed. It would be great for these memories to live on through the Theatr Clwyd project proposed here."

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Now Theatr Clwyd has been supported by the Trust to celebrate the stories and memories of those involved over the 29-year programme.

In July 2023, the Mold theatre will be creating a festival of events celebrating stories and relationships from around the world, working with schools across Flintshire. As part of this festival a performance or exhibit will be created using memories from the exchange.

The venue would love to hear from anyone who was involved in the Japanese Youth Exchange, if you have a favourite memory, story, picture, or video they want to hear from you! The final piece will be shaped from the stories given.

Chris Holmes Theatr Clwyd's Company Councillor participated in the exchange.

He said of the experience: "Having the experience of participating in the Japanese Youth Exchange when I was just 16-years-old was such an honour and privilege.

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"I was able to experience a completely new culture and way of life which has stuck with me to this day and help to share our own culture.

"I developed a friendship with my partner who I am still in touch with today with both him, his wife and little family.

"One of my overarching memories from this trip was teaching Yasushi the basics of playing rugby in Betws y Coed, only to find out three months after I arrived back that he had taken part in a game in Japan for the first time.

"The whole event was an amazing experience and one that I cherish to this day."

• If you have a story to share or were part of the exchange in any way and would like to get involved, visit the Theatr Clwyd website at www.theatrclwyd.com/japaneseyouthexchangestories for more information or email mystory@theatrclwyd.com