Report on the U.S. Spring Program 2023
Overview
From 20th Feburary to 28th in 2023, the program as an overseas training had been held in Hawaii. This program was held for the first time in three and a half years. By a preliminary selection, 8 university students who took part in the program of “Japan Future Scholarship Program” were elected. After a preliminary training, they visited Hawaii. In Hawaii which is so diverse in the United States, they went to many places to interact with people living in these places to learn the present situation of “diversity and coexistence” in the society.
Through this interaction, they had opportunities to know how people in Hawaii built a multi cultural society and a mind to respect each other. Also, they learned the way for the people to accept others. In addition, by meeting individuals and various oraganizations, they noticed the importance of having a global sight. As a result, the program had a good impact on them to think about their future.
【Organizer】Global Fund for Education Assistance
【Support】United States-Japan Foundation, Japanese American Association NY – Japan Society – Jiro Murase Memorial Scholarship, BofA Securities Japan Company, Limited.
【Participants】8 university students chosen from “Japan Future Scholarship Program 2020”, “Japan Future Scholarship Program 2021”, “Japan Future Scholarship Program 2022”
*Students who cannot take part in a overseas training because of COVID-19 are also targets.
【Program theme】“Learning from Hawaii for a Multicultural Society”
Background ”Japanese American Association NY – Japan Society – Jiro Murase Memorial Scholarship”
This project is made by taking over the will of dead Murase Jiro who had been active as a bridge between Japan and the United States. This project as “Murase Jiro Scholarship Projects” aims to make young people who act as the bridge come in contact with people in America. This program is supported by various oraganizatinos and people including United States-Japan Foundation and Japan American Assciation of New York.
Program Highlights
【Tokyo】Advance Traning (February 20th to 21st)
From the day before going to the United States, the students gathered in Tokyo from various prefectures in Japan. They talked each other to set a goal as to going to Hawaii. Also, they had a conversation about problems which Japan has in terms of multiculturalism considering the United States and Hawaii by sharing knowledge which they had reserched before this section. In addition, an English workshop was held to actively communicate with local people in English.
Moreover, they listened to a story from Yu Hayami, who has lived in Hawaii. She talked about the way to live in Hawaii and interesting accounts about the difference between the cultures of the United States and Japan. Further, Masakazu Asanuma, who had been an administration officer of Japan-America Society of Hawaii, gave a speech about the histories of Hawaii and people of Japanese descent in the society to help the students get much information about this region.
In the English communication workshop, by the support from members of BofA Securities Co, Ltd., the students learned various useful skills about English communication including the way to introduce and do a discussion.
With Hayami Yu and the members of B of A Securities Co, Ltd.
【Hawaii】Onsite Training（February 21st to 27th）
After arriving at Hawaii, the students learned how Hawaii became a multicultural society through meetings and talkings with people in the educational instuitions and non-profit oragainzations and people who shaped their career in the United States.
To Know about the Histories of Japan and the United States
Through visiting Bishop Museum which displays the history and research of Hawaii and is the largest museum in this county, Pearl Harbor attcked by the Japanese army in 1941, and Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii which shows the history of immigrants who have Japanese origin, the students learned what peace and safety are.
Visting to Bishop Museum and Pearl Harbor.
Visiting to Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.
Visiting to Educational Institutions
They also went to Hawai’i Pacific University, which is the largest private univerisity in Hawaii. They learned the roles which educational institutions play in the multicultural society. In addition, through interaction with students who have various backgrounds in the university, they shared opinions about diversity which they feel in their environment with them.
Hawai’i Pacific University
Hawaii Baptist Academy Elementary School
Visiting to Comapies and Speech Session
In the environment where people of Japanese origin and Americans work, the students went to a branch office of HIS Co., Ltd. in Honolulu which welcomes many tourists from many countries to learn how this company makes the good environment.
They met Naomi Palmer who runs a business of homestay in Hawaii and Atsuko, Toko Fish who is an administration officer in The Fish Family Foundation and founded JWLI (Japanese Women’s Leadership Initiative) aiming for leadership development of Japanese women. They talked not only about the importance of apprehending things in a global perspective and bulding their career, but also respecting others by an open mind and reflecting their actions.
Naomi Palmer (the left side/front low, fourth from left), Atsuko, Toko Fish (the right side/second from right)
Visting to Citizen Groups in Hawaii
The students went to two citizen groups. One is called “Kids Hurt Too Hawaii”, which has been helping children from 2001 suffering from experiences of losing their family members and trauma. The other is named “Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii”, which has also been helping children from 6 to 16 years old who have experienced difficulties like losing their beloved ones. The students listened to stories about how these two groups receive voices from young people who need mental care and encorage them to enter a society.
The students visited Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii (the left side) and Kids Hurt Too Hwaii (the right side).
The Experiecens of Homestay and Volunteer
They had stayed with a family half a day during the short stay in Hawaii to get chances about knowing opinions from those who live in Hawaii. In addition, they joined “Japan Wizards Competition” held by National Association of Japan-America Societies as a volunteer to introduce one of the Japanese traditional activities to college students who are interested in Japan.
Introduction about “Fukuwarai” in Japan Wizards Competition.
Voices of Students
“At first, I was very concerned about the program because I had never gone abroad. However, this was only needless anxiety. After this program, I feel like to going abroad again. And I gained various knowledge about English by speaking it. Also, I went to Pearl Horbor and learned the diffrence of understanding and history about it by the status of people. From now, I want to think about one thing through many perspectives.”
“Not only did my ability to speak English, but also try something and curiosity improve! I was able to ask questions without hesitation.”
“Because my thoughts come from the environment around me and my past experiences, I want to grow the width of them through many expriences. I also want to try something which I have never done!”
“(Regarding diversity) I learned danger that we can be exclusive without realizing it by people around us. I give attention to an attitude that we should accept ideas even if we think of them as wrong. While I noticed so many good points about Hawaii, I also noticed the good points about Japan. I will have a conscious desire to think from different perspectives.”
It has been three and a half years since this overseas traning project last was held. Though this project had a shorter schedule than usual, taking the fact that this program came true by many supports from many people, all students were able to finish this extremely busy schedule.
For 9 days, they have continued to think that “how is the society where everyone living there feels good made?” and “what can we do to make the society?” in Hawaii where various races having various religions build the society by respecting and supporting each other.
These expriecens must have good impacts on students when they think about their future. We would like to appreciate many people who received us very warmly in Hawaii at heart.