Japanese volunteers support country’s development efforts at grass-root level

Three Japanese volunteers arrived in Sri Lanka recently with the aim of providing their expertise to improve and add value to activities carried out by various public institutions in the country. These volunteers are in Sri Lanka as a part of JICA’s ongoing Volunteer Dispatch Programme. The volunteers were introduced to their host organisations at an assigning ceremony held at the Department of External Resources on 1 February.

The three volunteers possess a variety of skills covering several technical fields including ceramics, early childhood education and development (ECED), and caring for the elderly. Makoto Kageyama, who specialises in the field of ceramics has previously worked in Sri Lanka, and on this occasion, would support practical training activities at the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Colombo.

Makiko Kimura who is a specialist in ECED would provide her expertise to the Wayamba Pre-school Teacher Training College in Kurunegala, while social worker, Masayuki Fukuda would be assigned to the Department of Social Services of the North Western Province, to work in support of programmes aimed at improving the health of the elderly.

The strengths of JICA’s volunteers are their practical approach to problem solving, and their grasp of local languages, which enables them to interactively communicate with the local people.

These volunteers use extremely creative means of communication, which is essential for effective teaching and training.

They are able to positively influence those whom they work with due to their attitudes, strong sense of discipline and high emphasis on team work. These volunteers not only transfer technical skills, but also share knowledge on cultural aspects, and most importantly, build strong and long lasting friendships with local people that outlast their stay in Sri Lanka.

There are altogether 41 volunteers who are currently working in Sri Lanka. Since the inception of JICA’s Volunteer Dispatch Programme to the country in 1981, a total of 858 volunteers have worked in the country, and their contribution towards development activities at grass-root level is greatly valued by those organisations that have benefited from their services.