2024 TOMODACHI Summer SoftBank Leadership Program 2.0 Presented their Action Plans
On Sunday, December 8, 2024, the Commencement Ceremony (Final Presentation Day) for the TOMODACHI Summer SoftBank Leadership Program 2.0 was held in Sendai, Miyagi. Approximately 55 attendees, including program staff, gathered to listen to the final presentations from 12 students – 10 high school students and 2 university students – from the three Tohoku prefectures of Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima. The students shared their learnings from the three-week program at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), and the project experiences they executed upon their return to Japan.
The purpose of the program is to develop participants’ leadership skills as active members of their region’s communities and empower them to drive positive change in their regions. During their three-week training in the U.S. from July to August, they participated in the Y-PLAN curriculum (Youth – Plan, Learn, Act Now), an educational program developed by UCB’s Center for Cities + Schools (CC+S), which is designed to cultivate the ability of young people to participate in community planning and create meaningful change. Through dialogues with social entrepreneurs and local students, participants developed action plans to address issues within their communities in Tohoku. After returning to Japan, participants implemented their projects in their local areas with the support of mentors.
At the Commencement Ceremony, each participant presented their projects including their process and lessons they learned. They also discussed the challenges they faced, how they overcame them, and how they would approach future actions. The event also featured online participation from Dr. Deborah McKoy from UCB and David Weiser, CEO of Global Seed, the local coordinator in Berkeley, making it a truly international event. Following the presentations, a poster session allowed attendees to interact directly with the participants to provide opportunities for more questions and engagement.
Examples of Projects
- Building a strong and vibrant community by connecting elderly residents and youth in Ishinomaki City to foster relationships where everyone knows each other
— Mitsuhito Hirose, Miyagi Prefecture - Addressing the reputational damage to the fishing industry caused by concerns about treated water release through activities, surfing events and fish tasting, to emphasize safety
— Osuke Onayama, Fukushima Prefecture - Providing children with disaster preparedness education that begins with the question, “What is important?”, to help them reflect on critical actions to protect their own lives
— Chika Ishikawa, Iwate Prefecture
One participant, Chika Ishikawa, reflected on her experience: “Through this program, I rediscovered the joy of turning my ideas into actions, the importance of connecting with people, and above all, the beauty and preciousness of life. I learned to transform my anxiety into excitement and approach challenges positively, while also understanding the power of seeking help and collaborating with others.”
The second part of the program featured a panel discussion and networking session to celebrate the conclusion of the TOMODACHI Summer SoftBank Leadership Program and reflect on its journey since 2012. TOMODACHI alumni, Koichiro Inoue (3rd cohort) and Makoto Sasaki (2nd cohort), shared their experiences and discussed how participating in the program influenced their career paths and current endeavors, as well as their connections with other alumni.
The program participants are expected to continue to contribute to their communities and demonstrate leadership even after the program concludes.
