■Summary
Description:
The Nara JETNet Liaison Council is a group created by prefectural JET participants which is headed by the CIR in the Culture and International Affairs Division. Through this group, JET participants periodically plan and execute events designed to promote interaction with prefectural residents. The group also promotes a wide variety of grassroots internationalisation through international events and community volunteer work in every local government authority.
Duration |
Throughout the year (4 to 5 international exchange events held each year) |
|---|---|
Location |
Various locations within the prefecture |
Target |
Residents of Nara Prefecture |
Participants |
66 people (66 JET participants are members of Nara JETNet with residents of the prefecture applying for each event) |
Organiser |
Nara JETNet |
Budget |
Approximately 100,000yen over the period of one year |
Objectives:
To foster the initiatives of JET participants and provide an opportunity, as a part of their work, for participants to undertake international exchange activities in Nara's regional communities.
The activities, which focus on the skill sets and individual characteristics and abilities of participants, strengthen the ties between JET participants in the prefecture and help reduce loneliness and other mental stresses. They have consequently also reduced the number of JET participants who break their contracts mid-term. In addition to promoting the internationalisation of the various communities, and providing a place for international exchange activities to take place, the Nara JETNet activities also deepen the JET participants' contentment with their life in Japan, and connection to local communities.
For the residents of the prefecture who participate in the events, it also provides the perfect introduction for them to learn about the JET Programme.
■Implementation
Background:
Traditionally JET Programme participants in Nara were undertaking small scale international exchange events, either by themselves or in small groups, and limited to their own regional placement. However, Nara JETNet was established under the auspices of the International Affairs Division (as it was then known), as it realised a centralised, proactive, and independent body was necessary in order to widen the scope of such activities and enable JET participants to mutually cooperate towards the goal of international exchange.
Formation:
In August 2001 the inauguration of Nara JETNet as an independent body was announced by the (then) International Affairs Division to the various contracting organisations of JET participants. Originally, 69 of the 72 JET participants in the prefecture became a part of the association. However, since JETNet's activities became more focused, membership has grown and now all JET participants within the prefecture have become a part of Nara JETNet.
Expansion of Activities:
Nara JETNet's independent initiatives include international exchange events targeting the prefectural residents. However, the association has also expanded its activities to cooperation with various other bodies/associations in the prefecture.
Example of activities:
| 1) | Cooperation to promote the incoming tourism in Nara Prefecture ・Tourism research conducted through interview questionnaires of tourists visiting the prefecture ・Monitoring research from a foreign perspective |
| 2) | Exchange with English-proficient prefectural government employees ・Hosting of the "Yamato Communication Training Seminar" in cooperation with the Culture and International Affairs Division of Nara Prefecture |
| 3) | Participation in community initiatives ・Volunteer participation in the "Cleanup Nara" movement ・Participation in regional festivals |
| 4) | International exchange activities in cooperation with organisations and associations ・Co-sponsoring with city, town and village boards of education of Christmas events for children ・Participation in events sponsored by regional tourist boards (creating an added aspect of exchange with JET participants to currently existing events) |
| 5) | Assistance with the promotion of international exchange events hosted by other organisations ・Utilisation of the JETNet mailing list and associated JET networks |
| 6) | Training seminars ・Lectures given regarding international exchange events at CIR conferences and local seminars concerning the promotion of international relations |
■Management
Statute:
The "Nara JETNet Liaison Council Statute" was created to specify the objectives of the association, breadth of activities, and structure of the body, as well as stipulating that JET Programme participant's involvement is to be handled as a part of their contractual duties.
Establishment of a Planning Committee:
The planning committee consists of a Chairperson, Committee Members, and Committee Assistants. The CIRs in the prefecture make up the Committee Members and there are currently four such Committee Members in place. The Chairperson is to be decided by election among the Committee Members. Committee Assistants are ALTs appointed by the Chairperson.
Event planning and management is undertaken centrally by the Chairperson and Committee Members and meetings are called when deemed necessary. Committee Assistants support the Committee Members in the planning and management of each event.
Location of the Nara JETNet Office-Involvement of the Nara Prefecture Culture and International Affairs Division.:
As the Chairperson is held by the Prefectural CIR, the Nara JETNet office is located within the Culture and International Affairs Division. In addition to providing contracting organisations with a copy of the statute and explanation of the JET participants' participation as a part of their contractual duties, the Culture and International Affairs Division is also involved with the dissemination of information relating to participation in each event, as well as the promotion of these events. The Culture and International Affairs Division also supports Nara JETNet through mediation and coordination when events are co-sponsored, or held with the cooperation of a third party.
Recruitment and Registration of New Members:
Nara JETNet and its goals are introduced to new JET participants each year at the post-arrival prefectural orientation. In addition, at the Nara Prefecture Orientation at which all JET participants in the prefecture gather, a Nara JETNet meeting is held to call for enrollment and re-enrollment, introduce the new Committee Members, and hold an opinion exchange amongst all participants regarding the upcoming year's events.
At this same time, the Director of the Culture and International Affairs Division forwards JET participants' contracting organisations a consent form to signify their acceptance of the JET participants involvement and voice opinions regarding Nara JETNet.
Upon receipt of these consent forms, a register of members is created.
Mailing List:
All members are signed up to a mailing list and this is utilised to facilitate contact between the members, and to promote and advertise international exchange events being held in the communities.
■Budget
The Culture and International Affairs Division does not set aside a special budget specifically for the activities of Nara JETNet. Activities are held instead within the prefectural budget from the standpoint of the internationalisation of Nara's regional communities, with financial assistance from the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations branch office, and through co-sponsoring with other organisations.
■Submitted by
Nara Prefectural Government
Culture and International Affairs Division
Tel: 0742-27-8477
■Comments/Advice from the Supervisor
Since its inauguration in 2001, the Nara JETNet Liaison Council has reached its fifth year and has become a highly acclaimed international exchange initiative. While building on this base of activities, the Nara JETNet has successfully hosted international exchange activities in many areas of the prefecture. At the JET Programme 20th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony, Nara JETNet was bestowed an award by the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications for its outstanding contributions to grass-roots internationalisation. With this as a further motivating force even greater accomplishments are expected.
Nara JETNet is extremely significant in its ability to promote internationalisation of regional communities through links between the JET participants themselves, with the residents of regional communities, and with various organisations in Nara Prefecture.
For each JET participant, it also prevents their work and daily lives from becoming monotonous, and as they get to know and love the regions they visit through these activities, they become ideal "Nara Mahoroba Goodwill Ambassadors" in promoting the attractiveness of Nara after completing their contracts and returning to their home countries.
I hope that through these activities Nara JETNet can contribute to the true goal of the JET Programme of "increasing mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the people of other nations, and to promote internationalisation in Japan's local communities".
■A Word From CLAIR
The initiative to develop Nara JETNet as a central and separate body for the promotion of international exchange in the prefecture, to increase awareness of the JET Programme, and to facilitate cooperation between JET participants is two, perhaps even three birds with one stone. It is an impressive initiative.
