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The Prime Minister Receives a Courtesy Call from Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) Thursday, May 22, 2008 JAPANESE

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda received a courtesy call from Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), who had been dispatched to various African countries as computer engineers, social workers, math and science teachers, nutritionists, and nurses, at the Prime Minister's Office. The JOCV are dispatched by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as a part of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA). Having received the report of their activities, the Prime Minister enjoyed talks with the volunteers who revealed lively episodes of their experiences during their assignments. Following this, the Prime Minister met the students who were accompanying the JOCV members on this visit, and talked with them on topics covering the students' interaction with Africa, including their travel experiences, plans for visits, and future aspirations. Prime Minister Fukuda said, "I have been greatly inspired by listening to your experiences. Dignitaries from more than 40 African counties will visit Japan next week to attend the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV). Thanks to your recollections, I can tell them confidently that 'young people are doing their best.' I have an impression that Japanese people tend to see African countries as distant ones, and that may account for their lukewarm interest in Africa. So I take next week as a good chance to publicize Africa a bit more." Related link: TICAD IV (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) The Prime Minister Exchanges Opinions on TICAD IV with Ms. Sadako Ogata and Ms. Mayu Tsuruta