Exchange Japan 2012 is very proud to announce that it is the recipient of the Folke Bernadottes Minnesfond Scholarship. The scholarship is intended for international projects geared towards fostering cultural exchange between people from different countries and cultures. The project group wishes to extend our warmest gratitude to the foundation, and vows to redouble our efforts and ensure that this year’s Exchange Japan will be worthy of the honor this award has bestowed on our project.

Folke Bernadottes Minnesfond was founded in the immediate aftermath of the September 17 1948 assassination of Folke Bernadotte, for whom the foundation is named. Count Folke Bernadotte af Wisborg was stationed in Palestine as a mediator on behalf of the United Nations when he was gunned down by Jewish right-wing extremists in broad daylight. The extraordinary life and career of Folke Bernadotte is recounted in full on the foundations’s webpage, where further information on the history of the foundation, the applications process, and previous recipients can be found.