(Translation)

Enthusiastic About Drafting Practice

Students from a Tanzanian Vocational Training School Experience Classes at Nagai Technical High School

Students from a vocational training school in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, are currently visiting Nagai City, which served as a host town for Tanzania during the Tokyo Olympics, and are participating in classes at Nagai Technical High School. This is the first case in Japan where African students have been dispatched to a Japanese high school through coordination by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). The initiative is drawing attention as a potential model to help address issues faced by both countries: Japan's labor shortage and Tanzania's youth employment challenges due to a growing young population.

The group consists of six students, aged 19 to 25, studying mechanical and electronic engineering at the vocational training school in Dar es Salaam, along with two instructors, for a total of eight participants. They arrived in Japan on June 14 and will be staying in Nagai City from June 16 to 27. During their stay, in addition to experiencing classes, they will engage with Japanese culture through activities such as calligraphy and origami, and are also scheduled to visit local manufacturing companies.

On the 18th, they participated in a drafting class. Despite the language barrier, they communicated with high school students through gestures and smiles, and scenes of mutual teaching and friendly interaction were observed. One participant commented, "Japan's technology and facilities are excellent. I want to make use of what I’ve learned here back home."

A student from Nagai Technical High School said, "Their eagerness to learn really comes through," showing that both sides were inspired by the exchange.

Mr. Okumoto, Director of the Second Africa Division at JICA's Africa Department, expressed his hopes, saying, "In the future, we would like them to support Japan's manufacturing industry as technical interns, and after returning home, to spread the skills they have acquired and contribute to Africa's development."