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Inter-Collegiate Student Event, “Peacebuilding Activities initiated by University Students”

2012年12月23日更新

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(Discussion following presentations)

On Sunday, December 23, 2012, Ochanomizu University hosted an interuniversity event titled “What Students Can Do to Support Peacebuilding in East Timor,” bringing together students from different universities to describe and discuss various initiatives. The event drew 40 interested students from 10 universities.

The program consisted of the following five presentations from four universities and one student volunteer organization:

・“University Students: The Frontier Agent of Peacebuilding” (National University of Timor-Leste)」
・“Peacebuilding in East Timor” (Mitsuru Yamada seminar, Faculty of Social Sciences, Waseda University)
・“What’s social business? What can “LoRo SHIP” do as one of social business companies?” (NPO “LoRo SHIP”)
・“Sanitation Improvement and Social Capital, CLTS in Lospalos, Timor-Leste” (Sakisaka seminar, FLP International Cooperation Program, Faculty of Policy Studies, Chuo University)
・“How Can We Improve Waterworks & Sewerage?” (“Living Together in a Global Community” Study Group, Ochanomizu University)

Each group chose its own topic, and the presentations were delivered in English. A lively question-and-answer and discussion session followed the presentations.

Participating as commentators were Professor Antero Benedito da Silva (director of the Peace and Conflict Studies Center, National University of Timor-Leste), Professor Mitsuru Yamada (Faculty of Social Sciences, Waseda University), Associate Professor Kayako Sakisaka (Faculty of Policy Studies, Chuo University), and Associate Professor Harumi Kitabayashi (Global Collaboration Center, Ochanomizu University), who drew on their own expertise in political science, international health, and peace studies and offered valuable comments on a wide range of issues, including the possibilities for networking among student groups.

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(Group photo of participants)

In their feedback, participants reacted favorably to the fact that groups chose their own topics and presented them in English, and to the chance to share ideas and opinions. Many agreed that the symposium was “an opportunity to hear the topic approached from multiple viewpoints and to consider the various possibilities for student action in support of peacebuilding.” The Japanese students were particularly inspired by the opinions and advice offered by students and faculty of the National University of Timor-Leste based on their familiarity with the situation on the ground.

We are hopeful that this event will give a boost to interuniversity student networking and encourage student involvement in peacemaking activities. We are deeply grateful to everyone from the University of Timor-Leste, Waseda University, Chuo University, and LoRoSHIP, who helped make this event possible.

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