TOMODACHI Boeing Keio SFC Entrepreneurship Seminar: U.S. Training in Hawaii

TOMODACHI Boeing Keio SFC Entrepreneurship Seminar’s U.S. trip was held from August 21 to 26, 2022; four students selected from the program participated in the training on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The program started in December 2021; 23 high school and university students from all over Japan participated. In the seminars held through July 2022, in addition to acquiring the thinking and skills necessary to carry out a project, participants were divided into teams and worked on projects to solve social issues based on their interests, using the ideas they brought together.

The U.S. training continued to focus on “wellbeing” which has been an important theme of the program, intending to gain various ideas for solving social issues. The students participated in fieldwork, lectures, presentations, and various hands-on activities during the U.S. training. Participants exchanged opinions with local students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. They learned about island history, culture, and issues of recent years from a staff member of Native Hawaiian roots. They also learned about environmental issues from a person who makes and sells accessories using microplastics found on beaches. They also had the opportunity to try their hands at making their own.

Reflecting on the U.S. training, one of the participants commented, “I was nervous about going abroad for the first time, but the people I met during the training were very friendly and stimulating. I will do my best every day to make myself happy and everyone happy for their well-being.”