On Monday, May 25th, a special lecture was held in the "NPO/NGO Theory" course, taught by Lecturer Sayaka Akiho and part-time Lecturer Hisashi Kono Faculty of International Studies of Culture, Department of International Studies of Culture International Culture, using the activities of the NPO Child Doctor Japan as a case study to learn about the realities of international cooperation.
Building upon the fundamental concepts of NPOs and NGOs and their engagement with social issues learned in previous courses, this lesson focused on a more concrete practical example: support activities in slums in the Republic of Kenya. This organization provides support related to children's healthcare and education in Kenya.
On the day of the event, Hisaya Miyata of the organization first participated online and introduced an overview of the organization's activities and the living conditions in the area. Afterwards, they connected online with the Southland slum in Kenya and interviewed a mother from a family receiving support, hearing firsthand about her daily life and the challenges she faces.
Next, the students split into groups and, under the theme of "How to use the 5,000 shillings (approximately 6,000 yen) support fund to help mothers living in slums," they organized the background and fundamental factors of the problem based on the interview content, and considered and presented specific ways to use the support funds. Afterwards, the most feasible plan was selected by a vote of all the students, and the support funds were handed over to the mothers on the spot.
Through this course, the students deepened their understanding of the importance of considering international cooperation not as one-way aid, but based on the voices of those on the ground. Furthermore, by directly experiencing the current situation in Kenya through communication in English, it became a valuable opportunity for them to consider global issues as their own.
