40th years anniversary JICA Volunteer Program in Thailand - Sharing for the best and Growing Together -

[With regards to the 40th anniversary of JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in Thailand]

Name: Kaori Sazanami (former name: Kaori Sano)
Group of dispatch: 2016-1
Assignment term: June 27, 2016-March 21, 2018
Assignment place: Nakhon Pathom School for the Deaf
Field: Support for children and persons with disabilities

Title: "My Family"

First of all, congratulations on the 40th year anniversary.

I was dispatched to Nakhon Pathom School for the Deaf. Children at the school were not good at reading, writing and speaking, and could communicate only in sign language. Based on the opinions of children, "I want to talk to my mother who can't use sign language" and "I want to be able to read movie subtitles", I utilized those opinions and worked on activities that could support children to communicate with anyone and get information from reading. Through many classrooms, which used sound and vocabulary to build a fun environment, and workshops with school teachers, the number of teachers who realized the necessity of a teaching system was increasing. Reading and writing skills of students at the school were also getting better and because of support from colleagues at the school, I could continue my activities by the schedule. I also invited Japanese people who were J-league members and Sushi makers to work together to create events at the school in order to broaden my activities. During the dispatch, I sometimes thought that things weren't going well and was thinking alone until late night. In such tough times, my colleagues always laughed and took me out, saying, "Let's go to have meal", or "I'm going to Yoga", which made me laugh and relax. I can't say how much they helped me with their brightness and kindness that didn't ask for a return.

After I returned to Japan, 12 colleagues went to Japan to attend my wedding ceremony. I was really impressed that they would come to Japan. It's like an irreplaceable family to me. Even now, more than three years later, we still keep in touch with each other, nothing has changed in our relationship and I hope it will not change in the future. I want to cherish all the things that can make a precious bond which crosses over any differences between Japan and Thailand.

From now on, I also hope to see such an eternal bond and development of our two countries.

Class activities with Sounds and Words

Football class with ex-professional football players

With my family

Impression on JICA volunteer

Kaori Sano teacher, JICA volunteer, dedicated her soul, mind, and body to her work. She is a very responsive person and always plans her jobs and continues those by the plan. Kaori Sano teacher has good communication and transferring skills which meant she could share and manage a proper special education system to students and deaf teachers in the school. She is also a friendly and supportive person who always thinks of people around her. She also built understanding about international cooperation for the school and connected the cooperation between Japan and Thailand as well.

As a result, Kaori Sano teacher is a role model of a good teacher and is also a good inspiration to many teachers and students in Nakornpathom School for the deaf.

Ms. Unawan Manjay
Deputy Director,
Nakornpathom School for the deaf