Kagoshima Prefecture International Cooperation Youth Experience Program "Let’s go to Laos!"－ Applications Now Open.
Are you interested in learning about the warm hearted Southeast Asian country of Laos?
Would you like to do a homestay visit, become an exchange student or see Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in the workplace?
This will be a great opportunity for junior high school and high school students to learn about other cultures.
We are eagerly awaiting your applications.
Content
Japanese Overseas Cooperation Volunteer workplace inspection.
School Visits.
Homestay and the chance to interact with local residents.
Participant Requirements
Must be a currently enrolled at junior high or high school in Kanoya city.
Must be under the age of 18 as at the 1st of April, 2009.
Must have their school principal and guardian’s consent.
Must be physically and mentally fit.
Date/ Length of Stay
19th (Sun) ～ 26th (Sun) July, 2009(8 days).
Cost
Approximately 150000 yen
75000 yen will be subsidized by the Kanoya International Exchange Association.
Number of Participants
2
How to Apply
Please bring the following documents to the address outline below;
Kagoshima Prefecture International Cooperation Youth Experience Program
- Application Form（Form #１ PDF Word ）
- School Consent Form（Form #2 PDF Word ）
- Medical Examination Report（Form #3 PDF Word ）
Medical Examination Reports from certain hospitals can also be submitted if they contain all of the correct information. - Essay （Entitled ”My Volunteer Activities” (approx. 800 words)）
Submission Deadline
30th (Thurs) April, 2009
Location where applications should be submitted&Further Inquiries
For those students who currently attend a junior high/ high school outside of the Kanoya City area, please contact the Kagoshima Prefecture International Cooperation Youth Experience Program Committee directly on （099-221-6620）.
Let's go to Laos！Participant Interview
On the 20th of July 2008, The Kanoya International Exchange Association co-hosted a 7 day in-country study program in conjunction with the Kagoshima Prefecture International Cooperation Youth Experience Program called ‘Let's Go to Laos'. The purpose of this program was to allow youth from Kagoshima to directly experience the work done by Japanese volunteer groups overseas as well as deepening international ties through global cooperation. I talked to 2 of the students (Ms Atsumi Utsuno and Ms Nina Sugimoto) from Kanoya Central High School who participated in the program and asked them about their thoughts on Laos. Below are their answers.
Ok so what was your first impression of Laos when you arrived?
The color of the sky was so clear and beautiful. Also unlike Japan, there were street stalls and vendors everywhere.
Had you previously studied Laos in school?
We didn't know anything about Laos because we had never studied it at school. However we did have two pre-departure workshops before we left.
What language do they use in Laos?
Basically people from Laos speak in Lao. Some junior high school students could speak English; however there were also a lot of students who couldn't because it is not a compulsory subject in secondary schools. We often communicated simply by pointing at words in our Lao phrase books.
Please tell me a basic greeting in Lao.
In Lao the word for ‘Good Morning', ‘Hello' and ‘Good Evening' is exactly the same and is pronounced ‘Saba idee'. Everyone is really friendly and even people who didn't know us would come up to us, hug us and say ‘Saba idee!'. It was so much fun because people went out of their way just to talk to us simply because we were Japanese.
What was your host family like in Laos?
They were very hospitable. They always made sure we weren't feeling anxious by asking us if we were ok. It was surprising how kind they were.
How many people were there in your host family?
There were 7 people in my host family, although some of my friends' host families had up to 11 members.
Wow, sounds like a party everyday. Tell us about the food in Laos.
I ate frog for the first time. They often served frogs and ducks at the dinner table. They also eat beetle in Laos, however I didn't have the courage to try it.
Did any of your friends try to eat beetle?
No, everyone was too scared!
What is the staple food in Laos?
Sticky Rice. People in Laos pick up the sticky rice with their hands and roll it into a ball. Although it was the first time I tried eating food without using chopsticks, it was a lot of fun.
By going to Laos what did you realize about your own country?
We realized that the water in Japan is very clean. Even tap water in Laos is not safe for drinking.
We also realized that the facilities available at schools and hospitals in Japan are more than adequate.
Because the government (and people) in Laos tend not to spend money on others, the roads in both the affluent areas as well the areas where we stayed were mostly made of dirt.
We also learnt that we were blessed here in Japan because it is taken for granted that the majority of people here will at least make it to high school. In Laos it is difficult to even be admitted to junior high.
Finally it became apparent that both our transport and medical systems here in Japan are highly advanced.
Describe the people of Laos.
They seem to do things at their own pace. A party that we attended was supposed to start at 5pm but didn't end up starting until 6:30. People in Laos tend to regard time outside of work hours as their ‘private time' and as a result do not hurry to attend functions etc.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Ms Sugimoto:
By going to Laos I learnt just how kind the people there are. I hope that they can stay that way. These days in Japan people don't have the time to be kind to others because they are always in a rush.
There are still areas in the southern district that are polluted with landmines. This is something that would never happen in Japan. I became aware of the differences between our two worlds and also learnt how frail Laos' position is in the world when compared to other countries.
Ms Utsuno:
I would just like to add that I think we need to solve the current economic problems facing Laos. It is not a rarity in Laos for pregnant mothers to give birth in the forest because they cannot afford to go to hospital. In some of the poorer areas it is at least 40kms to the nearest hospital and many don't have any means of transport.
We are so blessed here in Japan because we are born into an environment were giving birth and being born is so easy. The people of Laos don't have this luxury and as a result tend to be grateful simply for the fact that they are alive.
I want the people everywhere to realize that countries like Laos still exist within our world and even though we may live in luxury in our own respective countries there are still those who not.
Interviewed by Nathan