Discoveries! JAPAN 5th ESD Youth Conference (ENG. ver.)

My プロジェクト*!

Sharing my reflections and insights from the 

5th ESD Youth Conference in Nagoya, JAPAN (13-14th October 2018)

<Contents>

1. About the Event 

2. Expectations

3. Highlights (Discoveries)

4. After notes (Learnings) 

1. About the Event

Theme：

"Making a Better Future with Education"

Quick Explanation:

How can we solve numerous societal problems and nurture a sustainable society? What can we do through EDUCATION? What can I do as an individual? This two day camp/conference allows participants to think more about these questions, and seeks to catalyse their future actions 

49 Participants"ESDJapanese Youth"are chosen from all around Japan, from diverse fields and backgrounds (including NPO/NGO workers, teachers, students, government officials, private company workers and more). Each will share their knowledge, and draw together a future vision that will lead to their individual as well as group initiative project (to be proposed at the end of the event).  

Access the following for more details: 5th ESD Youth Conference Report (Read more here) (-all in Japanese but, you can Google translate the whole page)

2. Expectations

Past Activities: Promote Education as a volunteer position in an International Organisation as well as in a Governmental Office 

Expectations from this event：

Connect with the ESD-gang to produce and advance future ESD activities

Especially thinking of the following three aspects...

⑴ How can we promote ESD? To the rural areas, among Japan, to the world, among students! Can we nurture ESD leaders? 

Although we ESD is a crucial concept, it is yet not a familiar word for many. Hence, it is critical to consider how we can promote it more

⑵ Start a Mini Project 

Regardless of the scale of the project, I want to start something (individually and/or in a group). I have a couple of ideas, so I will share with many for feedback and collaboration

⑶ Research

I continue to research about education under the ESD concept, thus, this event is a good opportunity to explore this area 

3. Highlights (Discoveries)

Inspiring Creative Activities!

ESD youth from all sectors of society create such a variety of activities, which I admire and potentially want to create also. "Sustaina-Monopoly"was one interesting example! This is a ESD game for the community. Community members are the main-characters of the game, creating their very own monopoly (including their community-problems and thinking about solutions by playing this game). The creator told us that this game is already played and enjoyed at community gatherings and festivals. I like how it is original to their community, and is relatively easy and definitely fun to create. It is also enjoyable among different age groups with different ways to play. I also want to create or even mimic such game!

Thinking about the Future ...?

To be honest, I hadn't really thought about the close future (2020, 2030) that much. In one career class in university, I did write out my plans until age 100. But here, it was even more interesting as we considered things bigger things in society (such as, the way of study/school, the way of work work, tech, entertainment, Japan, family, SNS, social issues, others, world, earth, environment etc.). What future do you vision ... ? The current education we have will surely influence our future society ...

Discovering through Others!

• Interactions (E.g. Story-telling method-talk 9 mins about yourself, ESD vision and activity) enabled me to self-reflect and clarify my strengths and attitudes towards ESD
• It is extremely helpful to form groups such as "Regional(Rural)" ,"Students" , to collaborate and combat a common issues 

4. After notes (Learnings) 

One word summary：

"Waku-waku!"-emotionally 'excited'

Time flies, when you're spending rich time with some fun and passionate ESD youth people. Indeed I have some high hopes for a better future if we keep working, harder and together. 

Aside from my studies in Education and ESD, I want to produce an output for the betterment of society. This conference itself was extremely successful in the sense that it encouraged all participants to continue their ESD activities (and solve societal issues)! First and foremost, I credit the program with some rich content and well-thought structure, as well as highly open-minded and energetic participants. Furthermore, I want to bring such event to another place, whether it is abroad, or to the rural region (and the scale could be smaller)!

Something exciting to consider. 

<Keywords> #tospreadESD！

 #ESDyouth #ESDJapan #conference #EducationforSustainableDevelopment

 #教育 #未来 #ユース #ESD推進ユース