The Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) organized the "Juntos! Latin America-Japan Understanding Exchange Program," which was held in the Dominican Republic from February 7th to 14th, and Daiki Nakazawa, a third-year GCP student of Soka University, participated in the program.

This program is designed to promote friendly relations between Japan and the Dominican Republic, with the aim of further stimulating youth exchange between the two countries.

Mr. Nakazawa, who participated in the event, offered the following comments.
As a member of the 10-member Japanese delegation, I visited the Dominican Republic with a group of outstanding colleagues who are highly interested in international issues. Through courtesy visits to government agencies and other organizations in the Dominican Republic, exchanges with Japan-related organizations and facilities, and visits to ODA sites and NGO organizations, we learned deeply about environmental conservation issues and local educational issues. In exchanges with ministry officials and host families, we were able to build on what we had learned at Soka University and utilize the practical English skills we had developed in the GCP to engage in deep dialogue about educational issues from a broad perspective, such as improving environmental awareness and school curricula. We also found a book written by the founder of this university in the local embassy. I was moved by the fact that the founder's ideas and movements for peace have indeed spread throughout the world. What struck me most during my stay was the sight of children earning coins on the streets during the daytime on weekdays. I realized that the economic disparity that has become a problem in the rapidly developing Dominican Republic in recent years has resulted in depriving children of educational opportunities. In order to learn about a more comprehensive approach to solving the world's educational problems, I will be studying abroad in Denmark starting this September. During the remainder of my university life, I will continue to learn and ponder solutions to any problems with an emphasis on "going there and seeing it with my own eyes."