15 students and 3 teachers from Nofei Habsor High School in Eshkol, southern Israel, participated in the "Change Maker Program" in Japan, where they learned about diversity, leadership and community development.
Eshkol in southern Israel was among the regions most affected by the terror attack by Hamas on October 7th.
From late July to mid-August, 15 students and 3 teachers from Nofei Habsor High School were invited to Japan to participate in a "Change Maker Program", designed to enhance their understanding of diversity, leadership, and community development, and to empower them to address regional challenges once they return home.
In Fukushima, the main focus of the program, the students studied the 13-year recovery efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake from individuals impacted by the tsunami and nuclear disaster.
They also had the opportunity to interact with the local community by participating in kaiseki cooking classes and rural life experiences. These diverse interactions enhanced their mutual understanding and served as an excellent platform for developing leadership skills.
During their stay in Tokyo, the delegation had the opportunity to speak with Ambassador Emanuel at the U.S. embassy and share their message of hope for the future.
They also visited our embassy and had a meaningful exchange with the Ambassador. Discussions covered cultural differences and similarities between Japan and Israel, and a Q&A session about the work of diplomats was held. Additionally, there was a lecture on Japanese Manga culture by the manga artist Makoto Tanaka.
On the final day of the program, an audience of more than 100 people gathered to hear about their learning journey and commitment as "change makers".
Ms. Mayo Hotta, founder of the program and representative of enForward said, "We launched this program with the hope that the shared experiences of diaspora between an Israeli city and Fukushima would foster empathy and create a new community that can help advance through difficult circumstances. We hope that through this program, many high school students will emerge as change makers, acquire the ability to contribute to their communities."