“From Sogeri to Japan: Friendship and Learning at Expo 2025”

On July 13, 2025, six students and one teacher from Sogeri Primary School in Central Province, Papua New Guinea, departed for Japan to participate in Expo 2025 Osaka, and engage in meaningful cultural exchange with Japanese students. They will stay in Japan until July 22, spending 10 days visiting schools and learning together with their peers. This program was made possible through the initiative of Mr. Uchiyama Shota, a JICA Volunteer dispatched to Sogeri Primary School, who developed the project in partnership with local schools in both countries.

During their visit, the group will participate in exchange activities at Kamikita Primary School in Osaka Prefecture and Narayama Primary School in Nara Prefecture, explore SDGs and international cooperation at JICA Kansai, and attend the Papua New Guinea National Day event at the Expo. These experiences offer a rare opportunity for the students to share ideas, connect across cultures, and gain new perspectives through face-to-face interaction.

Learning Beyond Borders
This exchange is part of the Expo International Exchange Program, registered by Osaka City in 2024. Through this initiative, Sogeri and Kamikita Primary Schools have built their relationship via online exchange classes over the past year. The current visit marks the first time the students will meet their Japanese peers in person—turning virtual friendships into real-world connections.
By interacting directly with children from a different cultural background, both PNG and Japanese students are gaining deeper cross-cultural understanding and learning to value diversity as part of their global education.
Click here to see the online class （Link to Facebook Page）

JICA Volunteers as Bridges Between Communities
This initiative is a testament to the role JICA Volunteers play in building trust, fostering relationships, and linking communities at the grassroots level. Mr. Uchiyama's ongoing efforts in the field led to the creation of this program, which has now grown into a full-scale international exchange for the next generation.
JICA will continue to support these locally driven, people-centered efforts that promote mutual understanding, education, and lasting friendship between Japan and countries around the world.