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Hello everyone! We have released an interview video with Otonari-san volunteers.
A couple with small children shared their impressions of participating as volunteers in JII's OFP (Otonari-san Family Friend Program)!
Generally, the word "volunteer" might give the impression that one side is doing something for the other unilaterally, but JII's Family Friend Program, while called a volunteer program, conveys the feeling of making friends with foreigners and allows participants to enjoy cultural exchange together!
For example, the couple who participated in this interview has experienced three pairs so far. They were particularly surprised by the differences in parenting styles and values when paired with a couple who has small children, which provided them with valuable insights for their own parenting. They also shared how their experience with another pair made them acutely aware of the challenges of living abroad, which contributed to their personal growth, and expressed their astonishment at the differences in meals and customs.
I have personally lived abroad, and due to language barriers, it was quite challenging to have close interactions with local families while living there (sweat). However, in JII’s program, since the pairing-up is with foreigners who wish to interact with Japanese people, I feel you can become close with people from that country much faster than by living overseas.
If you have children participating in this program, I believe it will be a wonderful experience for them to interact with foreigners in a more natural way, feeling and experiencing various things firsthand, rather than just as a foreign language teacher. :)
Now, summarizing the feedback on the actual program operations mentioned in the video,
1. Before pairing, information about the other person is shared, and after a ZOOM meeting attended by JII staff, you can decide whether to form the pair.
For example, when receiving inquiries from foreigners about Japanese systems that feel beyond our expertise, the secretariat provides comprehensive support, including referrals to specialists.
3. The activity period is set at a good length of six months for each pair, which is neither too long nor too short.
4. If you wish to continue the exchange beyond six months, you can reach out personally, and there are foreign couples who are still in contact.
With that said, it seems that everyone felt very comfortable participating. As the organizers, we are truly delighted to hear such feedback! Thank you!♪
It may sound self-praising, but one of the features of JII's program is the thorough support. We operate with the hope that you will fully enjoy the wonderful connections and participate with peace of mind.
If you are even a little interested, please feel free to join us. We look forward to seeing you!