アンリとジャスタスが、郁文館グローバル高校のアフリカゼミの生徒さんたちと勉強会を行いました。

同高校のアフリカゼミでは、新型コロナウイルス感染症が世界的に流行する前までは活動の一環として夏にアフリカへ渡航していたそうです。そして、数年前にアンリたちが所属するルワンダのプロテスタント人文?社会科学大学を訪問し、第一弾の交換留学生であるロドリグと親交を深めたことをきっかけに、日本へ来る交換留学生たちと毎年、不定期で勉強会を開いています。

コロナ禍で国内での勉強会でさえもなかなか実施できずにいましたが、ついに先日、日本で初めて対面し勉強会を開催しました。生徒さんたちは事前にアンリとジャスタスが日本についての何を学びたいかをヒアリングし、リサーチや資料作成、プレゼンの練習と万全の準備を整えてくれました。アンリとジャスタスは、それぞれ自身の国について講義をしました。

アンリたちは高校生たちのプレゼンが想像以上に深い内容であったことにとても感銘を受けたようです。以下、アンリのエッセイになります。

I met Ikubunkan Global High School students. It was a nice reunion for those who had been in Rwanda and in person and first sight for those who had not been to Rwanda. I am amazed by their organization and commitment towards Africa. It is enthusiastic for high school students in their teenages to have such commitment, knowledge and interest of African continent which is very far from their home country, Japan. What is amazing is that they have different interests which make their group heterogeneous in knowledge.

We had a pre-meeting on Zoom. They expressed the need to know about Burundi in particular about culture, economy and education. In exchange, they want to give a presentation about Japan. I was curious to know about the term "half" of mixed child in Japan. Before coming to Japan and during my first days in Japan, I thought Japan was totally homogeneous. However, I started to meet mixed children mainly in Tokyo. I was interested in how "half people" are integrated in Japanese society, which is sometimes referred to as homogenous society. Thembo also proposed to them to prepare an interesting topic, "Who is (considered) as a Japanese".

During the meeting then, we were learning from each other. Their interest is broader, and during my presentation, they asked many critical questions about Burundi and my experiences as a refugee. I loved it very much. I loved their presentation as well. I could not imagine the presentation was made by high school students. I felt happy about that and now I can't wait to meet them at their school in person before I go back to Rwanda. For Japanese parents who dream of their children getting into international studies earlier, I recommend Ikubunkan Global High school. I requested them to tell me more about their school's agenda towards internationalization and globalization the next time I meet them.