The Power of JICA Volunteers -- Change the World, Change Japan: 60 Years of the Volunteer Program

In 2025, the JICA Volunteer Program marked its 60th anniversary. Over the years, approximately 58,000 volunteers have been dispatched to 99 countries, contributing to the development of various sectors such as education, healthcare and medicine, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, in developing nations. However, it is not widely known that many volunteers apply their experiences and skills to address challenges within Japanese society after returning home. This report reflects on the program's history and explores the "social contribution" activities of former volunteers.

Dec. 24, 1965.
An aircraft carrying the first five-member group of the "Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers" (JOCV) departed from Haneda Airport bound for Laos. This marked a significant moment as Japan, which had been rebuilding after the war with international aid, took a new step onto the stage of international cooperation.

In the first year, following Laos, volunteers were also dispatched to Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Kenya, bringing the total to 29 volunteers in five countries. Subsequently, the regions for dispatch expanded, and by 1990, the cumulative number of dispatched volunteers had surpassed 10,000. Initially limited to younger adults, volunteer dispatch programs expanded to include volunteers for communities of Nikkei, or people of Japanese descent, and senior volunteers. In 2018, a policy change eliminated age-based distinctions, allowing participation from ages 20 to 69.


The activities of the JICA Volunteer Program now span nine fields, including agriculture, forestry and fisheries, healthcare, social welfare, and commerce and tourism, covering over 170 different professions. In 2016, the program was honored with the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of Asia," in recognition of its contributions to the development of the Asian region.


The JICA Volunteer Program serves as a bridge connecting Japan with the world and stands as a symbol of international cooperation.

The JICA Volunteer Program is guided by three main objectives:

The first is "To cooperate in the economic and social development, as well as the reconstruction of developing countries."

The second is "To deepen mutual understanding and coexistence in cross-cultural societies."

The third is "To give back the volunteer experience to society."


"To give back the volunteer experience to society” refers to utilizing the experience gained from activities in developing countries to address challenges both domestically and internationally. In 2023, to foster this momentum, JICA launched the Commendation for Giving Back to Society to recognize the post-return activities of former volunteers.


In 2025, the awards, now in their third iteration, honored seven recipients. The themes they pursued after returning home were diverse, including issues such as school absenteeism, sports for people with disabilities, and support for disaster-stricken areas. During the final selection, the grand prize was chosen following presentations by the seven participants.

 

This time the grand prize was awarded to Aoki Yuka, representative of the nonprofit organization ALECE Takaoka, which is dedicated to supporting the education of children with foreign roots in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture. Over the 15 years since ALECE began its activities, approximately 270 children have received support.

Aoki began her presentation with these words:

"My current activities are directly connected to my experiences in Brazil during my time with the volunteer corps. The Nikkei community embraced me, despite my inexperience, and allowed me to thrive. There, I experienced significant personal growth, and at the same time, I was given a substantial challenge to address."

As a student, Aoki developed an interest in the Nikkei Brazilian community. From 2005, she spent two years as a youth volunteer in the Nikkei community, dispatched to a Japanese language school in Parana province in southern Brazil. In the local Nikkei community, passing on Japanese culture and language to younger generations was a significant challenge, and Aoki taught Japanese to children who were fourth-generation Nikkei.


The Japanese language, which the Nikkei community in Brazil has cultivated independently, has some differences from what is currently used in Japan. Aoki continued to worry about this, wondering, "Will the Japanese I introduce as a teacher negate the language of their community? Why have I come here?" However, the local people, who take pride in both their homeland and community, warmly welcomed her as a companion in considering the future of the region.


On the other hand, Aoki also perceived another issue.


"There was a rapid increase in Nikkei individuals taking their families to Japan for work. Some children attended school in Japan and then returned to Brazil, yet despite having lived in Japan, they couldn't speak Japanese or had become delinquent. First and second-generation Nikkei would ask me, 'What is happening with Japan's education system today?'"


We must support children's learning within Japan.


This became Aoki's "significant challenge."

Upon returning to Japan, Aoki began working in Takaoka-city, visiting schools to support children with foreign roots. Takaoka is home to many manufacturing factories and relies on workers from various countries, including Brazil. Their children also attend local schools.


Aoki witnessed the severe situation these children faced. Some could not understand Japanese and spent their days just staring at the blackboard. Others faced discrimination and prejudice, leading to self-deprecation. They had all given up on the idea of advancing to high school.


With children coming from various countries and speaking different languages, Aoki felt that she "could not tackle this alone." In 2010, she teamed up with like-minded colleagues who shared her concerns to establish the predecessor of ALECE Takaoka. They volunteered to support the children's learning and provided information on further education and other resources to students and parents who did not understand Japanese.

Shimizu Stephanie Yukie, who came to Japan from Brazil at the age of 2, was one of the students who began attending ALECE before her high school entrance exams. "I felt out of place in Japan, but ALECE provided a space where kids in similar situations could come together and study toward the same goals. It was an important place for me," she reflects. Thanks to the support, the high school advancement rate improved.

 

What came to mind was the "citizenship education project," aimed at collectively addressing community issues. Young people with foreign roots took the lead in organizing workshops on topics such as art, disaster prevention, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As these events continued, people began to meet and form new connections, transcending barriers of origin and position.

Now a staff member at ALECE and a mother, Yukie says, "I struggled with what name to give my child. To ensure they don't experience the same difficulties I did, I chose a name using only kanji. I hope that such struggles will disappear in the future."


Murao Hidehiko, who runs a construction company in Toyama Prefecture, is one of the residents connected through the "Kyoso no Mirai Toyama" (Co-creation of the Future Toyama) project, initiated as part of a civic education project with JICA Hokuriku.

 
"Our company has long accepted foreign workers, but I learned that the younger generation sometimes feels torn between their cultural roots and Japanese culture. I want to contribute to creating a new inclusive society in Toyama where young people and children can live joyfully," he says.


Aoki comments, "Brazilian society embraced immigrants from Japan, and the presence of Nikkei people enriched and strengthened the community. I believe that such flexibility is what Japanese society needs now. It may not be easy, but we must keep moving forward step by step. I see it as our responsibility to do this for the next generation."


Aoki hopes to transform the community through activities that transcend barriers of nationality and age. Her experiences with the volunteer corps continue to guide her path forward.

With 60 years of history, the JICA Volunteer Program has become widely recognized both domestically and internationally. The sweat and tears volunteers have shed alongside people in foreign lands, along with numerous insights gained, are invaluable assets in life.


At the same time, the passion and careers of these volunteers are significant assets for Japanese society, which faces challenges such as a declining birthrate, an aging population, inequality and multicultural coexistence. Former volunteers, who have grappled with harsh realities and challenges in their host countries, are now active in various social arenas. Many are founding nonprofits, and a growing number are aspiring social entrepreneurs.


The JICA Volunteer Program's catchphrase is "All it takes is one opportunity in life." The stage for former volunteers to shine will continue to expand.