JCI United Kingdom was honoured to receive JCI World President Kentaro Harada and his assistant Kazuo Murata in Manchester and Belfast the week of the 25th of July.

President Kentaro is welcomed in Manchester by members of the JCI UK National Board and JCI UK National President Allison Cowell

The visit started with a casual discussion with members of JCI UK National Board, where President Allison Cowell and the National Board had the opportunity to present the membership growth this year, successes and issues in JCI UK, and President Kentaro was able to share what is going on on the global level.

In Manchester the President and National Board were generously hosted by Mint Hotel.

President Harada and JCI UK President Cowell have an informal chat

After the meeting with national board members, the President moved to the top floor of the hotel where JCI Manchester had organised an informal evening with speeches by JCI Manchester President Deborah Rainford, TOYP Nominee Ruth Ibegbuna and President Kentaro.

TOYP nominee Ruth Ibegbuna from RECLAIM talks about her work with RECLAIM.

After learning about the amazing work RECLAIM is doing in Manchester, JCI President Kentaro Harada shared with us his story and passion for JCI.

JCI President Kentaro Harada speaks to JCI UK and JCI Manchester on his background and passion in JCI

To wrap up the evening, JCI UK President Allison Cowell and JCI UK Community Director Gemma Fletcher handed over a certificate to President Harada with the amount of money raised by JCI UK for the JCI and UN campaign Nothing But Nets. A whooping $17,300 has been collected so far across the UK and made a solid impression on President Harada. 

JCI UK President Allison Cowell and JCI UK Community Director Gemma Fletcher hand over a certificate of $17,300 to JCI President Harada.

JCI Manchester members were numerous at the evening and all had an opportunity to meet and talk to President Harada in an informal setting. JCI Manchester was able to showcase some of their events with well made exhibition boards around the room.

Exhibition by JCI Manchester Community team

The next morning a business breakfast was organised at the JMW Sollicitors in Manchester in the honour of President Harada. JMW Sollicitors LLP are important partners of JCI Manchester. The breakfast was hosted by Senior Partner Joy Kingsley, past President of JCI Manchester.

In addition to speeches by President Harada and Joy Kingsley, the participants heard from Peter Heginbotham, OBE, Honorary Consul to Japan, Keith Arrowsmith from JMW and Clive Memmott from Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

President Kentaro with Allison Cowell, Gemma Fletcher and Solveig Malvik from JCI UK National Board and Deborah Rainford from JCI Manchester

After departing Manchester, the President traveled on by plane to Belfast.