On 9th March 2024, Ambassador Baraka Luvanda had a working lunch with Japanese overseas volunteers who served in Tanzania under the JICA Japanese Volunteer Program (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers - JOCV). Founded in 1980, the Waswahili No Kai platform, facilitates mutual acquaintance and friendly dialogue amongst those Japanese volunteers who have been engaged in various activities in Tanzania under JOCV.
The lunch occasion marked the 57th Anniversary of the initial dispatch of JOCV to Tanzania in March 1967, contributing to diverse sectors such as health, education, IT, agriculture, sports, and human resources in local governance. Over the years, approximately 1,700 Japanese individuals have been dispatched by the Government of Japan through JICA to serve in different Tanzania regions.
In his remarks, Ambassador Baraka Luvanda thanked the volunteers for their contributions to the development of Tanzanian communities and urged them to continue promoting Tanzania and its culture to the Japanese societies, especially, through the use of Kiswahili. He also encouraged them to continue their development efforts in the nation even after they return to Japan; and assured them that Tanzania values the contributions they continue to make to the country's economy.
The collective efforts of the Japanese volunteers in Tanzania are recognized in Japan as "WASWAHILI NO KAI," acknowledging the significant use and contribution of the Kiswahili Language in their activities in Tanzania. Even upon returning to Japan, they continue working on different development initiatives with Tanzania to help Tanzanian societies, especially in the fields of health, education, agriculture and sports.
