Stand up Peru!

NAKAGAWA Takeharu
Chief Representative
JICA Peru

Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, since 1958, which started its operations in Peru, has carried out various types of cooperation in the fields of infrastructure improvement and disaster risk reduction, among others. Also, we, at JICA, have dispatched more than 7,000 Peruvian officials and specialists to Japan to deepen their knowledge through participating in various training programs.

In March 2020, the Peruvian State decreed a state of emergency due to the spread of COVID-19.

We shared Peru's concern about the difficult situation caused by the spread of the virus. For this reason, we have made donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for medical staff, healthcare personnel and for various communities in the provinces. Likewise, through the Potable Water System Optimization Project, we were very happy to contribute to the reduction of the contagion, even if the outcome was limited, and we were able to deliver clean water for hand washing, which in these times is vital.

JICA ex-participants, such as, for example, the current Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, and the Vice Minister of Health among other government officials, are leading the fight in these times of pandemic. I also express my deep respect for JICA ex-participants, who are respected professionals in each sector, and who have been actively organizing and participating in webinars for Peru and Latin America. They have contributed to topics such as health, education, environmental control, and disaster risk reduction, and in this way they are contributing to the socioeconomic development of Peru.

One of JICA's cooperation schemes is the volunteer program. JICA started the program in Peru in 1980 and this year they are celebrating their 40th anniversary.

We had planned to hold various events to thank the Peruvian people. However, due to the pandemic the events could not be carried out.

Instead, JICA volunteers had to return to Japan abruptly due to the state of emergency declared by the Peruvian government in March 2020.

JICA volunteers study and gain extensive professional experience in Japan before participating in JICA's volunteer program. However, most of them do not have enough experience of to do their work easily in a foreign country, because the culture and customs are very different from those of Japan.

Many people who have been a great support to JICA´s volunteers are their counterpart colleagues, the Peruvian families that provide them with accommodation, and their friends.

In this special year, 35 volunteers who returned to Japan made a video to thank their Peruvian friends. Since it was published on social networks, the video has reached more than 40,000 people. Also, we have received warm messages from Peruvian friends. For all these expressions of affection, I would like to offer thanks on behalf of the JICA Peru Office. With the grateful feelings of the volunteers, we also send the best wishes of all the members of our office. Of the messages received, several mentioned that they wanted the volunteers to return to Peru soon.

Since 2021 is the year of commemorating the bicentennial of Peru, JICA will do its best to make the prompt return of experts and volunteers a reality so that with the restart of the various activities, we can respond to the expectations of our Peruvian friends and thus contribute to the socioeconomic development of Peru.

I warmly thank all the JICA ex-participants, volunteers, and experts for acting as a bridge of friendship between Japan and Peru.

Stand up Peru (Arriba Perú)!