Building the TOMODACHI Generation Program Continues to Inspire Innovative Ideas for Towns in Tohoku
On February 26, 2016, the Building the TOMODACHI Generation Program came to a close successfully in Washington, DC. Over the course of the two week program, the 19 Japanese and 15 American college students learned about civil society and its role and function in the United States, as well as Japan, through lectures and panel discussions. After engaging in discussions and lectures on civil society and developing an understanding of cross-sector partnerships, students were asked to apply their knowledge and develop projects that address the ongoing issues facing the Tohoku region. Students enhanced teamwork and collaboration skills by working as part of an international team comprised of both Japanese and American students.
Jessica Hernandez from Quinnipiac University said, “This program really opened my eyes to the cultural differences between Japan and the United States. It really showed how we had to collaborate with the Japanese students… There were definitely some challenges with language barriers but it showed that even if there are obstacles in your way, different groups of people can ultimately come together and create a wonderful effective project.” Also, by working closely together for two days, students developed cross-cultural understanding, critical thinking, and communication skills while building friendships. Yumeko Inoue of Sophia University said, “This program has been a great learning opportunity. I have learned many things about civil society, as well as teamwork skills and skills needed in global field, but most of all, this program made me realize that we each have different strengths and if we could combine them together, we can actually bring changes to create sustainable and resilient environment.”
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the third year of the Building the TOMODACHI Generation Program. As such, the focus of the projects that the students created were not so much on immediate relief but on long term sustainability and community healing.
On the last day of the program, the students presented their projects in teams to a panel of judges and a live audience. The two teams that won proposed a project to revive the fishing industry by creating a school curriculum that will have students learning from local fisherman about the production of “hoya,” a sea pineapple that used to be a huge export for Miyagi prefecture, and to organize a bi-monthly event at the sea wall which was built to prevent further tsunami disasters. These two teams will visit Kesennuma and Onagawa in Miyagi prefecture in August 2016 to present their projects to the towns.
