#Japan #Tokyo #JICA #Social Contribution #Overseas Volunteers

JICA Hosts the 4th Award Ceremony for Overseas Volunteers

On June 8, 2026, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) held its 4th award ceremony recognizing the social contributions of returned overseas volunteers at its headquarters. This annual event shines a light on individuals who have utilized the skills and insights gained during their service abroad to address social issues both domestically and internationally.

This year, six former overseas volunteers received awards for their remarkable initiatives addressing various social challenges. Each awardee delivered presentations detailing their respective projects. Among them, the grand prize was awarded to Aya Tsuboi from Fukui Prefecture.

Tsuboi utilized her experience in Uganda to develop a prepaid water well fee recovery system, combining Japanese manufacturing know-how with the innovative ideas of Ugandan technicians. To date, over 300 wells have been installed across Uganda, enabling approximately 100,000 residents to access safe water. Her impactful approach, addressing a critical challenge in developing countries with a local perspective, was recognized with the grand prize.

As the JICA overseas volunteer program approaches its 60th anniversary in 2025, it has dispatched more than 58,000 volunteers to 99 countries. The creativity, execution skills, and commitment to social contribution developed in these settings continue to facilitate solutions to various social issues worldwide after the volunteers return home. This award ceremony aims to make these experiences more visible, transforming them into practical knowledge that can drive societal change and boost the momentum for social contributions by former volunteers.

The ceremony was attended by awardees, judges, JICA executives, and guests, highlighting the various projects that tackle issues such as income generation for farmers in Malawi, a zoo regeneration initiative in Mie Prefecture, educational support for children with foreign backgrounds in Aichi, and SDGs education in Chiba. Although the initiatives vary in focus and methodology, common themes of problem-solving skills cultivated during their volunteer experiences were evident, showcasing the volunteers’ capacity to empathize with local needs and collaborate with diverse stakeholders towards impactful solutions.

During the presentations, Chief Judge Katsura Miyazaki, JICA’s Vice President, remarked, “I was deeply moved by the awareness-induced pursuits for social change displayed by each awardee.” Tsuboi's innovation, the prepaid well fee recovery system, though potentially easier to develop in Japan, was delivered in Uganda, fostering community ownership that leads to a commitment to product sustainability. JICA President Akihiko Tanaka also emphasized the growing importance of human connections and collaborative efforts in tackling social challenges worldwide, especially in these trying times.

Following the ceremony, a networking event was held for participants, including awardees, returned volunteers, corporate representatives, and media personnel. Attendees engaged in fruitful discussions on expanding community contributions and collaborative possibilities for future initiatives.

In her acceptance remarks, Tsuboi reflected, “Participating in the JICA volunteer program fundamentally changed my life. Being on site allowed me to understand the root causes of water management issues from the local perspective.” She expressed determination to continue her impactful work and report advancements to the community.

Award winners also included projects championing entrepreneurship in Malawi, animal conservation, multicultural coexistence in Aichi, and education that links Japanese classrooms to global contexts, demonstrating the extensive range of social innovations inspired by the international cooperation experiences of JICA volunteers.

Lastly, JICA operates as a pivotal agency for Japan's official development assistance (ODA), addressing myriad challenges faced by developing nations through various cooperative efforts, thereby contributing to global peace and prosperity and the further development of Japanese society.