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SWY is a programme in which Japanese government aims not only to develop friendship and understanding between Japanese youth and world youth but also aims to learn about other cultures.12 participating youth from each 12 countries and 120 participating youth from Japan meet in Tokyo at first.After attending some ceminars and programmes in Tokyo they get on board and departure from Japan.There are ceminars group discussions group activities club activities national presentations free time and volunteer activities on board.In each programme there are countries selected to visit.In these countries there are activities with students courtesy visits and instituition or museum visits.

The 21st Century Renaissance Youth Leaders Invitation Program (REN) was implemented as a follow up of the 40-year history of international youth exchange programs, which were began by the Japanese Government in 1959 to commemorate the marriage of H.I.M. the Emperor.

The REN is proposed as an innovative enterprise to open a door to the new century.

Youths who are taking active roles in various fields, from business to education to youth development, and who live in different parts of the world are invited to Japan to participate in the 21st Century Youth Leaders Invitation Program.

By providing a wide range of activities with Japanese youths, we seek to:
1. Promote understanding towards Japan for the overseas participants
2. Promote mutual friendship and understanding among the youths from Japan and the respective countries

Conference for the westbound countries in January 1999, the fifth Conference for the eastbound countries in September of the same year, etc. Since 1996 the Tokyo Conference is held each year and in 2002 it was suggested that the Tokyo Conference for the Ex-Participation Youth of SWY Program, as known as Tokyo Conference, should be called as Ex-PY Conference in short. The Conferences aimed to identify the present situation of each Alumni Association and discuss the future plans for the establishment of the SWY Alumni Association Network.

During the first International Reunion in Acapulco, which was help in March 1995, the participants decided to encourage the establishment of an Alumni Association in each participants country of the Ship for World Youth Program. They shared their ideas about how to built an International Alumni Association Network of this program.

In January 1996, the first Ship for World Youth Alumni Association (SWYAA) Tokyo Conference was held; inviting fourteen representatives from thirteen eastbound countries, where an agreement was made on the basic framework of SWYAA. The second International Reunion in Dubai 1996, was attended mainly by the ex-PYs of the westbound countries. In the on-board discussion during SWY 8, the agreement was supported as the basic framework for SWYAA, which emphasized global perspectives towards the future network.

Based on the recent developments in each country, and on the active cooperation of ex-Pys, the Tokyo Conference was organized by inviting ex-Pys of participating countries of the westbound course in 1997.

In 1998, the third Tokyo Conference was held for the eastbound countries, followed by the fourth