Only 3 days left until the launch of our crowdfunding campaign on August 1st!
Today, we would like to introduce our study tour at Aino High School of Agriculture in Iga.
Aino High School is a full-boarding agricultural high school that teaches organic farming. We have enjoyed a long-standing partnership, with many of its graduates coming to ARI as volunteers. During the WJST, Participants stay on their campus, tour the farm and school facilities, and connect with the high school students through discussions, songs, and dances.
We spoke with Sojiro Oka, a post-graduate student at Aino High School who is currently undergoing a one-year training program at ARI. He recalled being deeply moved during his high school days when ARI participants from various countries sang a song for them, calling it a truly rare and memorable experience.
Having visited Okinawa and Hiroshima to learn about the history of war during his time at Aino High School, he shared his thoughts on the significance of the WJST:
“I feel it would be a huge loss if the participants couldn’t go WJST. Every country faces various issues, such as war and pollution. If I remained ignorant of those things, I would find that scary. By learning about places like Hiroshima and Okinawa, our hearts are drawn to these issues and history, which changes how we think, and ultimately, how we live. Although this trip allows participants to learn about another country, it also connects back to the issues of their own home countries. That is why I believe it is such a vital learning opportunity.”
■ Crowdfunding Campaign Starts August 1st!
We will be launching our crowdfunding campaign on the “Syncable” platform.
https://ari.ac.jp/en/campaign/update
■ Seeking “Support Funding Partners” (July 1st-)
Would you be willing to set up your own personal sub-campaign page on Syncable? You can help us to raise donations from your friends!
If you’re interested in, please contact us at [email protected].
■ Meet ARI’s current participants!
Check out our Stories on SNS to watch their self-introduction videos and support their Western Japan Study Tour!
