Two Bradford youth workers are to sail the world as mentors after they impressed organisers of an international voyage to mark the fight against terrorism.

Nasim Khan, 25, of Marshfields, and Kamran Zulfkkar, 20, of Heaton, return-ed from a 11-night Voyage of Understand-ing across Europe this week, where they joined Jews, Christians and Muslims from the Middle East, Indonesia and America to promote peace and friendship.

The event marked the second anniversary of the Bali terrorist attacks in which 202 people were killed.

Both youth workers for Bradford Youth Development Partnership have now been invited back by Tall Ships Youth Trust as the first Asian youth mentors to work for the charity.

Chas Cowell, youth development manager for Tall Ships Youth Trust, said they could be in Barbados in February or the Canaries in March.

He said: "I recommended them to come back. They had excellent communication skills and their teamwork was outstanding. Being young Asians they fitted in with the other cultures. It can be hard being on a tall ship and as a youth mentor we do have to move them forward when they get down. Youth mentors act as role models, there to support everyone."

Mr Zulfkkar said: "I'm really proud. Not everyone gets the opportunity to go back as a mentor."

The Bradford team of six learned how to take the helm, handle the ropes, keep watch and basic navigation, and climbed two masts towering up to 120 feet above the sea. All made lifelong friends and built cultural and religious bridges.

Miss Khan said: "It was very emotional coming back, there were a lot of tears. When you are in such a confined space you make a lot of friends."

Mr Zulffkar said: "The biggest thing I took away with me was a sense of respect for others. At first I feared that I'd be stereotyped but everyone made an effort."

Salima Hafejee, manager at BYDP, said: "We think these voyages are important. If you want youngsters to develop you have to create international opportunities and this trip allowed young adults to share perspectives and get in a dialogue with young people from all over the world."