Record of Our Activities

 On June 17th, second-year SG course students visited the Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, “Shishu-kan”.

The purpose of this training was to ask graduates for some advice about how to set a research theme and plan, and to learn about what a global leader or researcher is like by communicating with their future role models.

After listening to opening remarks from Prof. Oshima and graduates’ introduction of their own research, the students started to give their presentations one by one.  Graduate students gave them some advice.  The students were very nervous at first, but gradually the discussions became lively.

   This training was a good chance for students not only to get useful advice but also to know the essence of research.  

[the participants’ comments]

＊I understood how to go about our research by visiting Syuugakukan.  Before this visit, we chose only one point of view and we were not able to set up various hypothesis.  However, through this experience, we now have various viewpoints.

＊Before listening to the lecture, I could hardly explain what research was.  Now, I seem to have found that creativity and newness are important in doing research.  I was glad that the graduates tried warmly and earnestly to give us advice.  I want to exchange my opinions positively from now on.

♢JICA Special Lecture

 On June 12th, second-year and third-year SG course students and third-year students in humanities course listened to a special lecture whose title was ‘Learn from The Most Unique and Happiest Country, Bhutan.’  It was given by Tomoki Nitta from JICA Hokuriku branch.  He wore a traditional costume from Bhutan, and he spoke about stories when living in Bhutan and policies on improving GNH (Gross National Happiness).

Third-year students in literary classes are going to work on making essays about what they learned from his lecture for JICA essay contest.

[the participants’ comments]

＊I believed there was no democratization without blood.  However, I was so surprised that such a situation occurred in Bhutan.  I thought Bhutan was such a nice country, because Bhutan seriously thinks about the happiness of its citizens, compared with Japan.  Japan has a lot of suicides, although Japan is rich in money.  Also, I think it is kind of people in Bhutan to donate to poor countries even though Bhutan is also poor.  I will never forget their warmness.

＊Today, I learned a lot of things about Bhutan, and my perception was overturned.  I knew about Bhutan only as “one of the happiest counties.” However, I learned Bhutan regards the happiness of　citizens very seriously.  I was so moved by his words, “International cooperation means to share happiness.”  I often hear the phrases ‘international cooperation’ or ‘international interactions’ said.  I want to try to understand foreign cultures more.

♢JICA Mini-Lecture

 The mini-lecture about JICA was held for 49 participating students.  Ayako Yamashita, who had been involved in JOCV (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers), was invited and gave a lecture about nourishment education in Bolivia.  She explained the difficulty of working internationally as a nutritionist, telling them about language barriers and different cultures.  At the same time, she talked about satisfaction she felt when she got the trust of local people.  This was a good opportunity for the students who were interested in intercultural communication or international contribution to broaden their minds.

[the participants’ comments]

＊I was very excited because I didn’t know about Bolivia at all.  I learned that there are big carnivals, and people can enjoy nature there.  Now I want to go there.  She seemed like she had a very full life in Bolivia though she had trouble with the language barrier.  I thought that the nutritionists were nice when I heard that the cooking helps communication.  International activities are exciting, so I want to join volunteer organizations such as JICA.

＊When I heard that there is a food delivery only once a week in some places in Bolivia, I realized that Japanese people are blessed with a lot of food at hand.  I learned the benefits of cooking natural food with natural tools instead of cooking with convenient tools or using treated food material.  The most memorable statement was “if you do what you can do, someone will accept you and you can get more opportunities.”

 On March 30th, three second-year SG course students visited Kanazawa University, and exchanged opinions with the president Mr. Yamazaki and two trustees Mr. Shibata and Mr. Fukumori.

The students who are studying measures to combat depopulation in Suzu city explained their ideas to set up the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Kanazawa University in Suzu city.  After that, they exchanged their opinions about joint projects between Kanazawa University and the local communities and discussed various problems in Ishikawa.

This interaction encouraged the students’ study very much.

 From March 27th to 28th, as the preparation for the next SG course research, 41 newly-elected students visited United Nations University and other cooperative institutions in Tokyo.

The purpose of this visit was to get some advice as to what to research and which problems to study by taking some lectures about global problems.

On the first day, at United Nations University, the students had lectures from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Information Center.  They learned the activities of the United Nations, which aimed at Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and made a tour of the United Nations University.  On the second day, during the training course separated with each group, they visited the Earth Park of JICA, Plan International, and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.  They took some lectures, made a tour and interacted with the students there.

   Based on what they learned from this training, they will then prepare to research.

[the participants’ comments]

＊What I was most surprised about is that the number of people who live in developing countries is 5.6 billion.  I also learned that it was not easy to support them because of the differences of religions and cultures.  I thought that it was important for us to find what we can do now and put them into action for international cooperation in the future. 

 

＊I was surprised that children also mine rare metals for cell phones with their bare hands.  Although I know there are some reasons for cheap clothes, I think it is difficult to change lives quickly.  I want to find out what I can do. The common ideas of UNDP and Plan International and JICA are that we should not give temporary help, but give them something that will last indefinitely.  I want to consider ideas that have long insight in mind.