Local communities prep for impactful collaboration with new batch of JICA volunteers

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) fields its latest batch of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) to selected schools, local government units, and national government agencies to cooperate with Filipino counterparts and serve at the grassroots.

Among the seven newly arrived JOCVs, four are educators who would like to make a mark in their respective fields. KANAZAWA Mikako, for instance, hopes to utilize her background in Science and Technology and experience as a Senior High School teacher to strengthen the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program in La Union. Similarly, NAKAZAWA Naho, an Education and Mathematics major, looks to help improve basic math skills of pupils at an elementary school in Iloilo based on Japanese education styles.

Having cared for Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN), two of the volunteers seek to establish holistic programs respectively that will support not only LSEN, but also their teachers and parents. KAMEHAMA Chihiro and KANEKOA Yuki, based on their respective work experiences in Japan, intend to develop learning modules on functional, vocational, and life skills such as financial literacy, cooking, and handicrafts for the Special Education Program at elementary schools in Iloilo and Cebu, respectively.

Meanwhile, HAGIWARA Masatsugu, armed with a solid background in agriculture and research, is eager to work with the Department of Agriculture and farmers in Nueva Ecija, also known as the Rice Granary of the country, and reintroduce modern concepts like planning, marketing, and finance to make their rice business more sustainable.

Leveraging her Animal Science and Agriculture postgraduate degree in Japan, NAGASHIMA Hiromi targets to support a dairy production and distribution system in Negros Oriental, that will allow dairy farmers to produce more volume and higher quality cow’s milk.

A disaster prevention advocate, SAKAMOTO Hideki, will work with the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) in Aklan in enforcing a community-based DRRM, supporting awareness-raising activities and trainings for not only the local leaders, but also the community members in emergency response, basic rescue, and evacuation management.

Through the JOCV program, JICA provides opportunities for its citizens to share their knowledge and skills to local communities across the Philippines. Since 1960s, close to 1,700 Japanese volunteers have already made a lasting impact on the people and organizations they worked with.

For JICA Philippines Chief Representative SAKAMOTO Takema, JOCV goes beyond volunteerism. “JOCV represents the mutual understanding and respect between the Philippines and Japan as strong partners in social and economic transformation. It is a great display of cooperation among individuals who are committed to empower change at the community level by working closely together. Indeed, the ‘bayanihan’ spirit is very much alive in JOCV through our hardworking volunteers and community partners.”

The program’s success has been well documented, reaping several recognitions from reputable award-giving bodies such as the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2016 for promoting the spirit of selflessness, service, and humanity.

Latest batch of JICA volunteers with JICA Chief Representative SAKAMOTO Takema (L4) and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines ENDO Kazuya (L5).