Workshop: What Is International Cooperation? Learning About the World Through Role Playing

2012年10月15日更新

（Presentation by an instructor from Oxfam Japan）

On the evening of October 15, Ochanomizu University, in partnership with Oxfam Japan, hosted a workshop on international cooperation. Oxfam is an international nongovernmental organization working in over 90 countries to “build a future free from poverty and injustice.”

I organized and presided over the October 15 workshop in connection with the Oxfam internship I am currently doing for my NPO Internship class. The theme was understanding the causes of global poverty and finding ways each of us can make a difference. In the process of role-playing, we tried to deepen our understanding of poverty and ultimately expand our knowledge of international cooperation and our awareness of what we as individuals can do to help.

The students participating in the October 15 workshop represented a broad range of academic courses at Ochanomizu University. The workshop began with a discussion on the serious issue of global poverty, with time taken out for activities to “break the ice” and bring participants closer together. Next came the role-playing game, in which participants had the opportunity to look at poverty from a variety of standpoints, including those of residents in the recipient country (teachers, doctors, villagers), as well as representatives of the donor country (ODA officials, etc.). The role-playing was thought provoking and stimulated a lively exchange of opinions. The evening concluded with informative presentations of Gancha, O-Kun Chraun, Study for Two, and other student organizations active on campus. I would like to think that the event helped in some small way to raise interest in international development and cooperation.

（Workshop participants showing their support for the
“Stand Up Take Action” campaign against global poverty）

This was my first time organizing and presiding over an event of this sort, and I was too nervous to handle everything as smoothly as I would have liked. Nonetheless, it was a valuable experience, and unlike anything I normally have a chance to do on campus. I hope to build on that experience going forward.

Last but not least, I would like to thank the Global Collaboration Center and its “Living Together in a Global Community” Study Group for their cooperation, without which this event would not have been possible.

（Towako Noda, first-year undergraduate student, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science）