Foreign Minister Awarded Commendations to Returning Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers

On July 23, an awarding ceremony was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Iikura Guest House in Minato-ku, Tokyo with participation of 58 Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) who had completed their term of service and returned home. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, attended as its representative and personally handed a certificate of appreciation to each of the returning volunteers. Guests included members of the Diet who support the JICA volunteer program, as well as representatives from the affiliations of the returning volunteers.

In her opening remarks, Foreign Minister Kamikawa referred to a volunteer she had met in Africa before. “I vividly remember how deeply impressed I was by her activities with enormous enthusiasm.” The foreign minister introduced her personal motto, “hotei-banri”—suggesting, never forgetting to gaze far into the distance in a long journey, while holding firm to high ideals with a view to the future—with the words, “I believe that all of you have embodied this in your host countries. With your high aspirations, you held close discussions with local people to seek solutions to the problems they faced and overcoming various difficulties through repeated trial and error.” She also shared her profound respect and heartfelt gratitude for the efforts of the JOCVs, saying “The JOCV program is highly regarded in Japan and abroad for being a uniquely Japanese form of development cooperation and has played an important role in strengthening friendly cooperative relationship between Japan and the countries of assignment. This is the result of activities of many past volunteers, including each of you gathered here today.” She concluded her speech by expressing her hope that “the skills and knowledge acquired by all as volunteers will be put to good use in Japanese society,” before presenting each volunteer with a certificate of appreciation.

After the awarding of the certificates of appreciation, a representative of returned volunteers, Ms. Rokukawa Ayami, who was dispatched to Madagascar for volunteer category of community development, delivered a speech on behalf of the returnees, introducing her activities such as improving maternal and child nutrition and raising awareness of public health and hygiene. Looking back on her experience of living and working with the people of her host country, she said, “It may not be easy for our individual activities to solve the issues faced by the people of our host countries, but I think that if we are able to provide even a small positive impact or opportunity for change, then our activities have been meaningful. I would like to continue to be engaged in international cooperation across various fields and regions by making use of the experiences and understanding gained through my JOCV activities.” Ms. Rokukawa closed her speech with an expression of gratitude to all who supported her during her assignment and for those who organized the ceremony.

At the beginning of the reception following the award ceremony, Ms. Obuchi Yuko, a member of the House of Representatives and President of the JICA Parliamentary Union (a group of Diet members who support Japan’s development cooperation, particularly the activities of JOCV program volunteers). She expressed gratitude for those volunteers who fulfilled their assignments with great determination despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including temporary returns to Japan and postponed assignments, and offered a toast with expectations for their continued success after returning home.

At the reception there was a lively exchange about volunteers’ experiences living and working in their host countries, as well as their aspirations after returning home.

At the end of the reception, JICA President Tanaka Akihiko paid tribute to the returned volunteers who had successfully completed their terms despite postponements and long waiting period for their assignments caused by COVID-19. He also emphasized the importance of applying their experiences to benefit both Japan and abroad by giving back to society and reaffirmed JICA’s continued commitment to the JOCV program to meet the expectations of developing countries and the people of Japan.

Guests *In Japanese syllabary order