Participated in ODA 70th anniversary commemorative event (Ayumu Yagi)

On March 3rd, 2024, I participated in the 70th anniversary of Official Development Assistance (ODA)” held at the Kobe International Conference Center and served as a panelist. As the Japanese ODA marks its 70th anniversary this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and JICA organize various commemorative events. The kick-off event was held in Kobe and attracted 300 participants. This event was also streamed online via YouTube. 

This kick-off event targeted the young generation to know about international cooperation, so students from Kobe University and Kwansei Gakuin University were invited as panelists to represent youth voices. From GSICS, Mr. Ryuto Minami and I from the Ogawa seminar were invited to speak at the panel discussion on “ODA through the eyes of the SDGs Native Generation.” We introduced how we became interested in international cooperation and our field experiences, and enlightened the audience about international cooperation. We also shared our ideas, from a student’s perspective, in promoting international cooperation among the young generation.

Since Yoshimoto Kogyo Holdings Co., Ltd. undertook this event, many comedians and celebrities were on the stage, making the event highly entertaining. It was a memorable time for me as I enjoyed backstage in the entertainment industry and met with celebrities I had watched on TV since childhood. Moreover, it was a valuable opportunity for us to outreach our activities to the public.

Last but not least, I would like to express my gratitude to MoFA and JICA for giving us this wonderful opportunity, Doctor Kazuyo Takeda (Faculty of Global Human Sciences) for coordinating, and Professor Keiichi Ogawa for the recommendation.

Kobe University News (Japanese)：https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/NEWS/info/2024_03_15_01.html

Authored by Ayumu Yagi (Doctoral student)