No.128 Encouragement for International Exchange Program Participating Students

On July 14, junior high school students from Inagi City, who are participating in a homestay and international camp in the United States during summer vacation, visited the mayor's office.

Up until now, it has become a tradition for young people participating in JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) dispatch programs to visit us just before they leave for overseas. It's my first time to receive it.

The participants this time are junior high school students participating in the international exchange program homestay and international camp run by the Labo International Exchange Center.

This corporation was established in 1973 as an incorporated foundation under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and later changed to a public interest incorporated foundation due to the reform of special corporations, and is now a general incorporated foundation. "Encourage people of all generations to become aware that they are members of the world, promote international exchange activities for mutual friendship, and at the same time conduct activities to deepen understanding of other ethnic groups, thereby contributing to international peace. It seems that it was established and has been active for the purpose of

　
The six middle school students participating in the homestay will go to Maryland, Virginia, Iowa, Utah, Texas, and Tennessee, but the international camp will be held in one location, Oregon.

Everyone in the mayor's office was a little nervous, but each of them gave a speech in English about their enthusiasm for coming to the United States, and I gave them words of encouragement at the end.

In addition, since the homestay participants will have the opportunity to meet the mayor of the host city, I entrusted each student with a personal letter addressed to the mayor of the host city. I would be happy if you could use this as a topic to talk about and communicate well with the mayor of the other party.

　
By the way, it was on July 27th of last year that Inagi City concluded its first overseas sister city relationship with Foster City, California, USA. It's been almost a year now, but it's unfortunate that due to the effects of the new coronavirus, we haven't been able to have actual human exchanges. However, I was very reassuring and happy to learn that these worries are over and that children are actively going overseas.

Recently, Japan seems to be gradually falling from the position of sending information to the outside world, becoming somewhat withdrawn.

In order for Japan to recover as a vibrant country, it is important that young people have the spirit to go abroad. For that reason, I think that what we adults can do is to internationalize children.

We are currently preparing to welcome a delegation from Foster City to Japan this fall, and we are planning to welcome a delegation from Inagi City to the United States next year.

In the future, it would be great if I could send my children to Foster City through the Inagi Sisters and Friendship Cities Association.