SCHOOL OUTREACH PROGRAM TO PRECIOUS BLOOD SECONDARY SCHOOL, RIRUTA
On Saturday 29th May 2010, Kenya Japan MEXT Alumni in conjunction with Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), visited Precious Blood Secondary School, Riruta to promote the study in Japan and hold a Japanese language and culture class.
The event started with the introductory videos on Japan and Study in Japan which roused many questions from the students. One student asked “How many national universities are there in Japan?” There are about 90 National Universities in Japan was the response.
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| Precious Blood Secondary School students listening to the presentation |
A JICC staff explaining the Japanese Government scholarship |
This session was followed by a presentation on Japanese Government Scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to students who have made outstanding academic achievements and are willing to study in Japan. Students keenly listened to the presentation while taking notes on the important details when the application period comes. After the presentation, the students asked many questions and at the same time expressed concerns as to availability of courses of their interest. But to their amazement, it is found that Japanese universities offer courses that are more specific to the fields of study.
Dr. J. Mativo, Chairman of Kenya Japan MEXT Alumni, responded by saying that he is a Civil Engineer by profession and more precisely a Structural Engineer. He explained that while in Japan the two fields were in different departments but within the same faculty and Japanese universities are structured to give the best training possible in your area of interest.
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| Dr. Mativo making a presentation on Gate Tower |
Ms. Kondo teaching Japanese language. |
Dr. Mativo later made a short presentation on the Gate Tower Building in Osaka. The building is an engineering marvel with the highway passing through the 5th -7th floors. Dr. Mativo said seeing such ingenuity makes the students think beyond the obvious. He encouraged the students to think outside the box.
The students got a lesson on Japanese language from Ms. Kondo. They were introduced to Japanese greetings and how to make a self introduction. Unlike Swahili or English, they were told that Japanese language has three types of writing namely Katakana, Hiragana and Kanji. However, they were surprised to learn that Japanese language pronunciation is similar to Swahili.
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| Two students showing how to make a self introduction in Japanese |
A JICC staff showing an Origami box prior to teaching the students how to make one |
Origami, Japanese paper folding art, was the last item of the day. A JICC staff taught the students Origami. He started by showing some finished origami which were of familiar animals in Kenya and a crane which is famous among the Japanese. Each student was given a few origami papers to have first hand experience on the art. The days chosen art was a box made of six similar folding. The students followed the instructions diligently and folded the individual part of the box. Then in groups of six they assembled the pieces to make the box. As each group finished their box there was jubilation and claps from the members.
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| Students diligently following the instructions given in Origami session |
Students learning how to assemble the box |
The students and their teachers expressed their appreciation for the insightful and enlightening visit and requested the JICC to pay them another visit soon.
