Yao Shin returns to Japan after a year of studying abroad in Senegal

Kokoro Yao, a fourth-year student at the Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies, participated in the Ashinaga Foundation's overseas training program and returned to Japan at the end of February after spending about a year studying abroad in the Republic of Senegal in Africa. With the new semester approaching, we spoke to her about her activities and impressions during her time abroad, as well as her future aspirations.

■A pandemic early in his enrollment left him at a loss.
Mr. Yao enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences (now Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies) in April 2020, hoping to study international relations, especially social issues overseas. However, with the Corona disaster, his goal of studying abroad is no longer in sight, and he does not even know what he should study. However, I decided that it was no use stopping here, and since my freshman year I have continued my activities by participating in internships with United Nations organizations and other organizations. Another turning point came when I consulted with my current seminar advisor, Shinji Sakamoto Associate Professor. He told me, "The encounter with Mr. Sakamoto was a big deal. His talk about his rich experience overseas helped me to develop a clear image of what I wanted to do, but at the same time, I realized that it would be difficult to do that job without experience," he said. Mr. Yao's desire to first get to know the field grew stronger by the day, and he decided to study abroad.

■Africa, the land of my dreams. Let's go to Senegal
She became interested in international cooperation and humanitarian aid, and especially wanted to learn about gender issues, so she applied to Africa, which has an image of a large gender gap. The official languages of Senegal are French and Wolof, and English is not spoken there. "I wasn't good at French, but I was determined to do it. I wanted to change myself by studying abroad! I imagined myself in the future with more confidence, and set off at the airport." Thus, she will take a year off from school in March 2023 and start her activities in the country.
Yao first went to meet as many people as possible in the first two months to build up a network, such as interviewing a French person who runs a shelter in the capital, Dakar, to protect women who have been victims of violence from men. She also participated in an environmental camp on a remote island organized by Gaston Berger University (UGB), Senegal's second national university, where she planted mangroves to prevent salt damage, ran a free clinic, and promoted waste sorting. She received daily thanks from the islanders, and realized that working there was what she wanted to do. This experience led her to shift her focus to observing the activities of the approximately 200 Japanese people in Senegal. "I wanted to learn the unique perspective of Japanese people. I wanted to listen to the stories of many people and see their activities, and think about what is important in working in international cooperation." After that, she met a Red Cross staff member and was able to visit a women's shelter and vocational training facility that is financially supported and jointly run by Japanese people. Inspired by the passionate people who continue their activities, she ultimately decided to observe Senegal and the current state of international cooperation activities.

■ Hurt by Senegalese people, saved by Senegalese people
At the beginning of her study abroad, she lost trust in people after being mugged twice on the same day, and wanted to go back to Japan, but the support of the local people helped her persevere until the end. "Senegal has a culture of warm hospitality called 'teranga,' where people are treated like family, and they accepted me, a foreigner. There were times when I was hurt by Senegalese people, but in the end they saved me." When she thought about what she had left behind in Senegal before returning home, she recalled that she realized what she had learned here.

■ A big change that came from realizing small happiness
"I consulted with Professor Sakamoto a lot, not only before I studied abroad, but also during my stay in Senegal. I was able to carry out my activities thanks to the advice of a highly experienced professor, and he supported me greatly. Things that were not fulfilling in Japan were fulfilling in Senegal. It is a country with nothing, but my days were filled with small happiness. The biggest change was that I was able to express my opinions, whereas before I was too considerate and could not say what I wanted to say. I also became more proactive and was able to take on challenges. I came to believe that you can't know until you try, and it was a big deal for me to be able to turn 0 into 1." Her words showed her confidence in having achieved her goal of "discovering what international cooperation means to me."
Currently, Yao has two goals: to find employment in an organization that provides international cooperation and support, and to continue to graduate school to further her studies in international cooperation. I hope that she will take the time to carefully find the answer to these questions over the next year until graduation.

The spring semester has finally begun. I hope that each and every student will have the opportunity to learn and grow, and I look forward to the campus being bustling with energy.

(Source: School Public Relations)