The "Overseas Field Study" seminar course in Faculty of International Studies of Culture Department of International Studies of Culture, conducts training both domestically and internationally with the aim of fostering students' international perspectives. As part of this, from August 6th (Saturday) to 11th (Tuesday), nine students from the department visited Cebu Island in the Philippines and participated in a "Volunteer Study Tour" program in collaboration with an NPO.
This program was implemented with the aim of deepening students' understanding of the current state of poverty, development, and child support in the Philippines through on-site experience. Before traveling, the students conducted preliminary studies on the social issues and cultural background of the region and planned a support activity to deliver used clothing. For the collection of used clothing, the students themselves called for cooperation from companies and carried out the collection and sorting work.
While on-site, we investigated the living conditions of children in slum areas and carried out support activities by delivering used clothing collected in Japan. After returning to Japan, we reported on our activities to partner companies, experiencing the entire process from planning and implementation to reflection on support activities.
Through these activities, the students examined the issues of inequality and poverty arising from the progress of globalization from multiple perspectives, and developed the ability to proactively communicate and collaborate with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Third-year student Mirai Shimamura (a graduate of Kokura Higashi High School), who participated in the program, reflected on the activity, saying, "Seeing the situation on the ground with my own eyes, I realized that having a good living environment and being able to live happily are not necessarily the same thing. Through this experience, I learned the importance of actually going to the place and trying to understand the thoughts and values of the people there."
[Department of International Studies of Culture]
