Commemorative Ceremony Held for the 60th Anniversary of the JICA Volunteer Program! PM of PNG Delivers a Message on behalf of 99 Destination Countries!

The JICA Volunteer Program dispatches Japanese citizens who are eager to engage in international cooperation based on requests from developing countries. As summarized by the phrase “together with the local community”, JICA volunteers live and work at the grassroots level, speaking the same language as the local communities and carrying out activities with an emphasis on fostering self-reliance for sustainable change. JICA Volunteer Program marked its 60^th anniversary in 2025, having dispatched its first group of 29 volunteers to five countries (Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Kenya) in 1965. Over the years, volunteers have utilized their respective skills and experiences to contribute to the people across nine sectors, including agriculture, forestry and fisheries, health and medical care, social welfare, commerce, and tourism, covering more than 190 types of occupations. Since the first volunteer was dispatched to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1980, over 800 volunteers have worked towards the development of PNG to this day. Currently, 15 volunteers are living and working alongside local communities across various regions of PNG.
On 13^th November, a ceremony commemorating the 60^th anniversary of the launch of the JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers was held at the Tokyo International Forum. The event was attended by their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, member of the Parliament in Japan, the diplomatic corps in Tokyo, returned JICA volunteers, and supporting organizations and individuals. The ceremony began with a greeting from JICA President Dr. TANAKA, followed by an address from His Majesty the Emperor and congratulatory messages from Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae and MP Ms. OBUCHI (Chair of the JICA Parliamentary League). Afterwards, representing the 99 destination countries, PNG Prime Minister Hon. James Marape delivered a congratulatory message.
On his speech, Hon. James Marape remarked that although 1965, the year the program began, was only 20 years after the devastation of World War II, Japan generously shared its love with the world through the form of volunteer. He praised the volunteers for their outstanding contributions to the development of PNG since the first dispatch in 1980, supporting people in various fields such as schools and communities. He also expressed gratitude, saying that at the community level, the volunteers have conveyed Japan’s value of ethics, spirit of service, and mutual support, and that they are truly wonderful “Tomodachi (Friend)” of PNG.
　JICA will continue to contribute to the development of partner countries through the JICA Volunteer Program.

【Leaflet】leaflet_60th_en.pdf
【Movie】https://youtu.be/XdC4HoWeXZA　
【Message by PM Hon. James Marape】 JICA Facebook Page