The seventh class of the Global Career Lecture Series was held for 9th graders. The lecturer was Junko Utsumi, a committee member on Japan`s Campaign to Ban Landmines (JCBL).
First, she talked about the Nobel Peace Prize winners, who were announced the day before the October 10th lecture. Then, she talked about her experience. The audience seemed to find it especially interesting to listen to her describe what it was like waiting for the result to be announced.
Her advice for students thinking about going abroad to work in an NGO was very helpful and encouraging. When she reflected on her career, she concluded that what she had learned by herself, and her work in NGOs, provided meaning in her life. She explained why the lecture’s title was “Meeting, Learning and NGO”, and included interesting personal stories in her talk about her experience.
She said she first learned about NGOs from a lecture at university, that her first visit to Cambodia widened her view and significantly changed her thinking, and that above all, the real experience of living in another culture became an important part of the foundation of who she is today. Given her friendly demeanor it was easy for everyone feel her warmth and grew to respect her accomplishment as a person who devoted herself into entering a new environment and making the most of what she could learn from the experience there.
During her explanation about the Campaign to Ban Landmines, which she was part of for a long time she explained the purpose and the mechanisms of landmines, and used a full-scale model to demonstrate how to use it.
While the students learned about the viciousness of landmines; posing a serious threat to people; and that they must be completely eliminated, they also learned about the origin of the revolutionary campaign, including its founders and the power that was generated from their sustained efforts, and how their speeches inspired others to join.
Finally, she told two important things: “Be Proactive!!—volunteer before something occurs.” and “Have interest in various things.” She also said, “we don’t know the future, and we might fail. But it’s more pleasant to do something than nothing, and once you have interest in something, this will be your energy to do it.” Her encouraging words gave the students the courage to act voluntarily.
After the lecture a student approached Ms. Utsumi. “Before I heard your story I didn`t anything about land mines. After hearing about your experience and ambition, both my friend sitting next to me and I felt we wanted to work for an NGO”. Ms. Utsumi looked happy after hearing that.
