As part of efforts to connect Japanese and African youth in preparation for TICAD 9, we recently held an online exchange connecting Yokohama Municipal Commercial High School (Y-school) and a teacher training school in Rwanda (* equivalent to a high school) in collaboration with the City of Yokohama and Forum2050, a non-profit organization. We hope that this kind of initiative will be a catalyst for Japanese youth to develop an interest in Africa, and for the creation of future bridges between Japan and Africa in both countries.
Poster displayed at Y High School
On the afternoon of May 13, 2025 (Japan time), the classroom at Yokohama Commercial High School (Y High School), which is connected online to Muhanga Training School (MTTC High School) in Rwanda, was filled with a tense atmosphere.
The online exchange meeting began with opening remarks by Representative Toda of Forum2050 and Mr. Ueno, Deputy Director of JICA’s Africa Department. In addition to the purpose of this exchange meeting, Representative Toda also introduced various issues facing the world today, and the perspectives of the high school students from both Yokohama and Rwanda suddenly expanded.
Opening remarks by Mr. Ueno, Deputy Director General of JICA’s Africa Division
Self-introduction session
The YHK and MTTC high school students took turns to introduce themselves, including what they liked about each other. The distance between the two high schools gradually narrowed.
Y high school students listening to the Rwandan side introduce themselves
Lying Games
MTTC students in Rwanda presenting a problem to the Japanese side
Each participant was asked a quiz about his or her own country that he or she had prepared in advance. Three options were presented, and the participants in each country either enjoyed discussing or became serious in their attempts to identify the one “lie” that was mixed in among the three options.
The quizzes, which were mainly designed by the high school students, revealed the cultures and customs of both Japan and Rwanda, and each time the correct answer was announced, the entire classroom was excited with cheers and shouts of surprise as the students deepened their interest and understanding of each other’s culture.
Searching for Commonalities Game
Prompted by the facilitator, the high school students from the two countries actively shared commonalities with each other. The Japanese high school students were surprised and nodded their heads in agreement when the Rwandan students mentioned the “world” in which they live together.
Keyword list of similarities between Japan and Rwanda
The future we want
The social event is coming to an end.
At the end of the session, both Japanese and Rwandan students introduced their own ideas about “the future they want”, and when the Y students explained their desired future, the Rwandan MTTC students asked “How (how will you implement it?)”. The MTTC students warmly applauded the Y students’ efforts to answer in English about how to achieve their “desired future,” and it was evident that the high school students from the two countries were deepening their connection.
Students speaking out about their desired future
Finally.
In closing remarks, Mr. Yanagisawa, Director of the Yokohama International Bureau, Mr. Oyama, Principal of Yokohama Commercial High School, and Mr. Masho, teacher from the Japanese side, and Mr. Makabateshi Muhanga, Director of Teacher Training School, and Mr. Shiotsuka, Director of JICA Rwanda Office, shared their impressions of this exchange meeting. They expressed their hope that the exchange meeting would be a catalyst for mutual understanding between Japan and Rwanda, and eventually a step toward “world peace.
At the end, high school students smile and wave to each other through the screen
The online exchange meeting ended on a high note, with students saying that they wished they could have talked longer. Despite the online format, the distance between Japan and Rwanda was not felt at all.
JICA hopes that these exchanges will contribute to the promotion of understanding between Japan and Rwanda, and will also serve as a catalyst for the development of human resources who will serve as bridges between Japan and Africa in the future.
Overview of Online Exchange Meetings
Event name: Online exchange meeting connecting high schools in Japan and Rwanda
Date and Time: May 13, 2025, 15:30-17:30
Co-sponsored by JICA, City of Yokohama, NPO Forum2050, Yokohama Commercial High School, Muhanga Teacher Training College (MTTC)
Location: (Japan side) Yokohama Commercial High School, (Rwanda side) Muhanga Teacher Training College
Participants:
(Japan side)
Yokohama Commercial High School Principal Hitohiko Oyama, teacher Kayo Masho, and 11 students
Representative Toda, NPO Forum2050 (Facilitator)
Takayuki Yanagisawa, Director, International Affairs Bureau, City of Yokohama, and 3 others
Shuhei Ueno, Deputy Director, Africa Division, JICA, and one other person
(Rwandan side)
Muhanga Teacher Training College (MTTC) Principal Mukabatesi, 20 students, JOCV Kuwano
Mr. Shiotsuka, Director, JICA Rwanda Office, Mr. Kimura, and 2 others
© Source JICA
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