On February 25, a ceremony was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s Iikura diplomatic mission (Minato-ku, Tokyo) to present certificates of appreciation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Sixty-six JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers who had completed their term of service and returned to their home countries attended the ceremony, where they were handed a letter of appreciation directly from Mr. Toshimitsu Mogi, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The ceremony was attended by Diet members and executives of support organizations who support the JOCV program as guests of honor, as well as supervisors and colleagues of the returned members who had left their status with their Japanese counterparts, who watched as each member received a certificate of appreciation.
In his opening remarks, Minister Motegi noted that JICA’s Overseas Cooperation Volunteers celebrated their 60th anniversary last year and have contributed to the economic and social development of the region and the promotion of friendship with Japan. He also expressed his respect and appreciation for the activities of the members, saying, “I still have a strong impression of the members of the JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers I interacted with in the field, who worked hard and with a sense of fulfillment in a harsh environment and spoke happily of their activities. He concluded his speech by mentioning the returning members who are actively working to revitalize local communities in Japan by making use of their experiences as members of the TAF and encouraged them, saying, “I hope that you will also make use of your ability to overcome challenges and your international outlook to play an active role in your respective fields.
Mr. Mogi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, presented each of the participants with a certificate of appreciation.
After the awarding of the certificate of appreciation, Ms. Ai Sato (Paraguay, Environmental Education) made a speech on behalf of the returning members, introducing her efforts to help the participants acquire the habits necessary for environmental conservation through lectures and workshops at schools in Iguazu City where she worked. Regarding her participation in the program after leaving her status at the town hall of her hometown, Amaraku Town, Gunma Prefecture, she said, “I was able to realize the growth of various forces and discover the true value of cultural exchange by taking advantage of the municipal cooperation between Amaraku Town and Iguaçu City, which has a friendly relationship with Iguaçu. I would like to continue to make use of my experiences as a corps member and continue to make small steps forward with my colleagues here to energize Japan and be a force for change in the world and in Japan”. He concluded his speech by expressing his gratitude to all the people who supported him during his stay in Japan.
Ms. Ai Sato making a representative speech
Group photo (1) Group photo (2) Group photo (3) At the round-table discussion following the ceremony, Yuko Obuchi, a member of the House of Representatives and chairperson of the JICA parliamentary group (a group of Diet members who support Japan’s international cooperation, especially the activities of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers), praised the efforts made by the JOCV members in developing their respective regions and promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the countries where they were stationed, The meeting started with a strong speech by Ms. Yuko Obuchi, a member of the House of Representatives, who expressed the JICA parliamentary group’s continued support for the activities of the JOCTs. During the meeting, there was a lively exchange of views and opinions between the returning members and the attendees on their activities in the countries where they were sent and their future plans after returning home. JICA President Akihiko Tanaka concluded the meeting by expressing his appreciation for the contributions of the returned participants to the countries where they were sent, encouraging them to use their experiences to give back to society at home and abroad, and expressing his hopes for further understanding and support of the Cooperation Volunteer Program to the guests. The discussion meeting (1) (2) The round-table discussion (2) Guest of Honor】 ※in alphabetical order Yuko Obuchi, House of Representatives; Emi Kaneko, House of Representatives; Kaname Tajima, House of Representatives; Masaaki Tiai, House of Councilors; Hirofumi Niki, House of Representatives; Jiro Haneda, House of Councilors; Hiroyuki Fujii, House of Representatives; Midori Matsushima, House of Representatives; Junzo Yamamoto, House of Councilors; Muneo Suzuki, House of Councilors’ deputy secretary Akita Prefectural Kita-Akita Regional Promotion Bureau, Otsuka Shokai Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, Myogogakuen Junior & Senior High School, Monoshiate, LLC Yoichi Akashi, Chairman, General Incorporated Association for Cooperative Development © Source JICA