Trainees of Mindanao-Hiroshima Skill-Up trainings 2nd batch arrived at Hiroshima on 8 January, 2017. They will stay in Hiroshima until the end of this week. A lot of people in Hiroshima welcomed them warmly.

Site Visit: 11 and 12 January, 2017

     Last week, the training was held on some places in Hiroshima Prefecture. From 11 to 12 January, they visited Gota Community Center in Higashihiroshima city and Kuba Community Center in Kuba district, Otake city. The purpose of site visit is to learn how community and municipal government cooperate each other at the community center. Trainees learned the function of community center at Gota Community Center, and they moved to Kuba Community Center, which got a prize of the best community center by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2015.

     They also visited Shomyoji temple in Kuba community. Former head priest taught the Kuba history. They agreed how important to know their own history.

     Next day they walked around Kuba town with a Map which was made by community. In the oyster factory, trainees saw some Filipino from Mindanao Island were working. Also they walked Udatsu Street, which remains its old scenery with Udatsu (old style fire wall), and they visited Ogi shoten store that sells lumber. In the afternoon, trainees had a session with Ms. Kouchi, the officer of Kuba community center and local people who are called “Chiikijin (a catchy nickname of active local people)”.

     This visit was reported by Chugoku newspaper next morning.

Session with Hiroshima High School Students: 13 January

     Trainees had a session with Hiroshima high school students at their school. Hiroshima high school is selected as a super global high school by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Around 40 high school students joined the session.

     Trainees and students discussed about peace. They made 6 groups and trainees joined their groups as facilitators. Trainees talked about the situation in Mindanao and also their experiences. Students thought seriously about the meaning of peace.

     They had presentations with drawings and words. Students spoke what is peace and how to bring peace in Mindanao. 

Presentation at Manabino Cafe at Kuba Community Center: 14 January

     Trainees visited Kuba town again to join Manabino Cafe at Kuba community center on 14 January. Manabino Cafe is held once a month, and local people can learn various topics with 　coffee. People who joined Manabino Cafe become Chiikijin. A lot of local people and 6 high school students joined.

 

     Trainees was introduced to participants with their traditional dance performances. After some explanation by Professor Yoshida, Mr. Kawagoe, an officer of Hiroshima prefectural government and Ms. Kouchi, trainees presented what they learned from Kuba community and how to utilize their learning in Mindanao.

  

     Participants showed their interest with trainees and Mindanao. They asked many questions to trainees, and participants and trainees exchanged their idea each other. Japanese sweets Zenzai and Filipino sweets Polvoron were served to participants with coffee. Kuba community center was filled with smiles.

     Trainees will have some sessions to develop their proposal in this week. Final presentation will be held this Friday.