Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Research Articles

Investigating Japan’s physical education assistance to other countries: extraction of major categories and examination of their relevance

PurposeThis study aims to provide the history and overview of the major categories of physical education (PE) assistance that Japan has provided to other countries by extracting the major categories from the various materials.Design/methodology/approachThis study is divided into two phases, Phases 1 and 2. Surveys and analyses were further conducted. In Phase 1, a web browser-based survey was conducted to ascertain the major categories of PE assistance that Japan has provided to other countries. The practices and projects investigated were classified inductively, and the major categories were extracted. In Phase 2, a literature review was conducted to organise the history and overview of each category extracted in Phase 1.FindingsSix major categories were extracted: (1) dispatch of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers engaged in PE assistance, (2) assistance through training for those involved in PE, (3) revision or formulation of a PE curriculum, (4) preparation of textbooks or instructional materials for PE, (5) organising sports event and (6) maintenance of PE equipment and facilities.Originality/valueJapan has a long history of providing PE assistance to other countries. However, historical materials on the practices and projects of PE are becoming scattered. Little literature addresses this gap, which this study seeks to address. This study can help policy makers in other countries, who can use Japan’s PE assistance practices and policies for reference, to assist them in formulating their own policies.

Exploring how international social workers perceive culturally relevant practices: A case study of Japanese social workers’ experiences in other Asian countries

AbstractThis pilot case study, as part of an international social work research project, explored how culturally relevant collaborative practices were perceived by international social workers. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with social workers (n = 4) who had worked as Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers for 2 years in another Asian country. Thematic analysis was applied to their narratives. Three main themes were found: ‘socio‐cultural understanding based on local life and activities’, ‘collaborative practice with local stakeholders’ and ‘attitudes and perspectives at the local practice’. Although the background and context of the interviewees’ activities differed, they stressed the importance of deepening their socio‐cultural understanding, together with learning local languages and deploying appropriate communication methods, through living in each locality and interacting with local people. They also described the process of exploring the collaborative activities through dialogue with local people, while taking a reflective view. These findings indicate the necessity for a deeper examination of collaborative practice by domestic and international social workers in various fields.

How Do Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in the Field of Physical Education Return Their Experiences to Society after Finishing Their Volunteer Work? Analysis Based on Qualitative Research Methods

How Do Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in the Field of Physical Education Return Their Experiences to Society after Finishing Their Volunteer Work? Analysis Based on Qualitative Research Methods

ESD 実践における学校教員の国際教育協力経験活用の 可能性 ─青年海外協力隊「現職教員特別参加制度」参加による状況的学習を通して─

ESD 実践における学校教員の国際教育協力経験活用の 可能性 ─青年海外協力隊「現職教員特別参加制度」参加による状況的学習を通して─

自由学園・青年海外協力隊・人類学 : 「共感」の功罪をめぐって

自由学園・青年海外協力隊・人類学 : 「共感」の功罪をめぐって

What Motivates Japan’s International Volunteers? Categorizing Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs)

The literature on international volunteer motivation has highlighted mainly Western cases, while almost ignoring Asian volunteers. Through an analysis of the motivations of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs), this study aims to identify who they are and to contribute to our understanding of individual behavior in relation to international volunteering. This is the first quantitative study of their motivation, and we surveyed them using a series of questionnaires. We obtained 1507 responses from the volunteers, and a cluster analysis of the revealed motives categorized them into six types, labeled as: (I) curious; (II) business-minded; (III) development assistance; (IV) quest for oneself; (V) change-oriented; and (VI) altruist. The results show that each of these groups tends to have a different set of motives, and these can be characterized according to their socio-demographic and behavioral information. The results confirm that JOCVs have the same altruistic and egoistic motivations that have been observed in the Western studies. From a practical perspective, our six clusters of volunteers match the three purposes of the JOCV program, and show that, to a certain extent, the program has been successful in recruiting young Japanese people. Moreover, the classifications will be helpful when the JOCV Secretariat managers wish to target specific types of volunteers for special recruiting and training.

Japanese-language education by Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers

Japanese-language education by Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers

Global Human Resource Development through Sport: The Expectations of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, The prospects of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers

Global Human Resource Development through Sport: The Expectations of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, The prospects of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers

青年海外協力隊による環境教育活動のあり方に関する一考察

A questionnaire aimed at improving the environmental education work of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) was distributed to 99 staff working in Meru National Park, Kenya. The results indicated the need for conservation education support in the park. Conservation education for people living in the area of the park has seen a number of challenges in terms of both quality and quantity due to staff irresponsibility, problem in the maintenance of fuel and vehicles, and poor collaboration between different departments. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the JOCV will need to work to improve the knowledge and awareness of locals about conservation and the relationship between the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and locals by coordinating the supply of materials and revenues that are urgently needed by the KWS with the grassroots activity of the JOCV while winning the understanding of KWS staff.

Global Human Resource Development through Sport The Case Study of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (The Expectations of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers)

Global Human Resource Development through Sport The Case Study of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (The Expectations of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers)

青年海外協力隊栄養士の派遣形態（新規，交替）における困難な活動内容と改善策に関する検討

青年海外協力隊栄養士の派遣形態（新規，交替）における困難な活動内容と改善策に関する検討

青年海外協力隊栄養士の帰国後の就業，社会活動，コンピテンシー到達度，及び基本コンピテンシーと関連する因子について

青年海外協力隊栄養士の帰国後の就業，社会活動，コンピテンシー到達度，及び基本コンピテンシーと関連する因子について

The JOCV's (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers) Works: Field of Agricultural Activities

The JOCV's (Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers) Works: Field of Agricultural Activities

Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers: Trends in Implementation of Environmental Education Activities and Barriers⋅Contributing Factors in Asian Region, Through JOCV Environmental Education Activity Reports Analysis

Since the 1990s, international educational cooperation has become an emphasis in basic education and has been stressed as a basis for solving various issues such as population and poverty. In 2002, Japan announced the “BEGIN: Basic Education for Growth Initiative” as international educational cooperation towards basic education development and launched the Cooperation Bases System by MEXT as a concrete measure aiming to strengthen primary and secondary educational cooperation. The system used Japan's universities as hubs to systematically organize, store, share and make use of educational experiences for future cooperation projects. As part of the System Construction Project, this research analyzes the activity reports of the official Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Program, which is carried out as environmental education, and aims to (1) analyze in order to grasp the overall trends in JOCV environmental education activities, and (2) extract the barriers and contributing factors to JOCV environmental education activities in the Asia region. As a result, this research found that success in environmental education does not only rely on volunteers' communication skills, developed environmental education materials and the quality of environmental education programs. The following factors were also found to have influence: (1) Host agency staff's knowledge, skills and awareness, (2) Local citizens' knowledge and awareness, (3) Ability to build networks and partnerships, (4) Intra-organizational awareness and recognition of environmental problems and environmental education, (5) Availability of teaching materials and appealing environmental education programs, (6) Availability of human resources to cooperate in environmental education and environmental conservation activities (7) Availability of funds, and (8) Political priorities.

青年海外協力隊活動におけるものづくりの意義--アフリカ・セネガル共和国の事例を中心にして

青年海外協力隊活動におけるものづくりの意義--アフリカ・セネガル共和国の事例を中心にして

The Status of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer Program in Environmental Management

After obtaining the Msc in forest ecology, the author participated in forest managementcooperation in Guatemala as a 2-year volunteer in the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV).The present administration of JOCV in cooperation with Japanese ODA activity suffersfrom a number of problems, including sectional divisions among administrative organizations, lack of monitoring by specialists, a weak presence of Japanese civilian control, and absenceof Japanese political leadership. In this environment, JOCV environmental projects areunable to function effectively from the points of view of scientific accuracy, economic andfmancial efficiency, or political and cultural relations.The theme of the present analysis is to address these problems.

Characteristics of Activities of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Engaged in the Health and Hygiene Field

Characteristics of Activities of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Engaged in the Health and Hygiene Field

青年海外協力隊員の職業性ストレス―職業性ストレス簡易調査票を用いて―

Mental health problems have recently increased among Japan Overseas Cooperation volunteers since 1965, when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan International Cooperation Agency) launched this volunteer work project for improving hygiene and socioeconomic conditions in developing countries. There was little research on job stress among them dispatched despite previous surveys indicating job as an important stressor. To investigate stress and job-related stressors among them, we conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological study from October to December in 2003. The subjects were all 1,084 Japan Overseas Cooperation volunteers aged 20-40, who worked in 67 countries worldwide at the time of this study (485 and 599 males and females, 316, 332 and 436 for those staying overseas for 11, 7 and 4 months, respectively). Approximately 80% were involved in their dispatching occupational organizations as professionals in information technology, health & welfare, education, and research. Our main outcome measure used was the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire, which was developed to assess stress and job-related stressors or buffers for Japanese workers. Demographic and personality (Egogram) characteristics as well as other health information were obtained. The response rate was 86.9%. For psychological stress, prevalence was 5.5% (n = 49). Means (+/- SD) were 4.22 (+/- 3.98), and 4.89 (+/- 4.40) for males and females (p < 0.05), and 5.15 (+/- 4.17), 5.05 (+/- 4.45), 3.93 (+/- 4.40) for those staying overseas for 11, 7 and 4 months (p < 0.01), respectively. For physical stress, prevalence was 2.9% (n = 26). Means (+/- SD) were 1.10 (+/- 1.68), and 1.41 (+/- 1.74) for males and females (p < 0.01), and 1.47 (+/- 1.77), 1.35 (+/- 1.89), 1.11 (+/- 1.55) for those staying overseas for 11, 7 and 4 months (p < 0.05), respectively. The factors significantly associated with psychological stress were high job demand, poor human relationships at work, low job suitability, low social support from supervisors and colleagues, and being dissatisfied with their life, according to multiple logistic regression analysis. The present study suggested that psychological stress was more prevalent than physical. It also implied a significant relationship between psychological stress and job-related stressors among the subjects of this study as in employees in Japan. Mental health check-ups and counseling in the early stage of psychological stress is important from the viewpoint of prevention of developing stress-related mental health disorders. Education on stress-coping skills should be considered in a training program before they are sent overseas.

看護職による国際協力の還元に関する研究 青年海外協力隊帰国後，再び国際協力に参加を希望する理由とその障害

【背景と目的】青年海外協力隊経験者の8～9割は再参加を希望するが, 帰国後の還元に関する一連の研究は進んでいない.ゆえに看護職の場合の課題を明らかにすることを目的とした.【対象と方法】協力隊帰国看護職397名に対し, 「再参加の希望」「希望理由」「障害」について郵送式質問紙から得られた回答を意味のある文に区切ってコード化し, 類似するコードごとにカテゴリー化して分析した.【結果】再参加希望者は多いが(289名・72.8%), 障害なしは14名(3.5%)だけであった.再参加希望の理由, 障害は, 1.一番多い理由は自己実現, 2.理由と障害の両方に「専門」と「語学」が挙がる, 3.障害は「家族」「自己」の個人的問題, であった.【結語】他職種と同じく再参加を希望しているが, 再参加者は少なく, 障害に「家族」や「健康」などの個人的問題がある, という女性の多い職種の特徴が浮かび上がった.

Working report of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers

Working report of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers