Service

1. Diversity Voyage

Diversity Voyage program is a 9-day long Global Citizenship education program conducted outside of Japan, which emphasizes on experiential learning and co-creation among participants from Japan as well as of destination countries. Currently, GiFT carries out Diversity Voyage program in the following 7 cities in Southeast Asia with local partner organizations:
  • Cambodia (Phnom Penh),
  • Indonesia (Bali),
  • Laos (Vientiane),
  • Malaysia (Kuching),
  • Philippines (Cebu),
  • Singapore,
  • Paro (Bhutan), and
  • Thailand (Bangkok).
The program is designed with the core value of GiFT: the Global Citizenship Process, and follows its steps. Through the 9-day program, GiFT provides opportunities to look at diverse backgrounds of participants in a variety of projects. In Diversity Voyage, a number of dialogue sessions are conducted among participants as well as with local people, where their emotions and ideas are highly cherished. Along the Process, participants search for hints for co-creation that can contribute to the society they are involved. “Personal Story & Dialogue Based Learning” is also the key concept of Diversity Voyage; GiFT puts importance on the Storytelling workshop. The workshop enables participants to get to know diverse life stories of local people, social entrepreneurs, and among themselves. Participants can sympathize with stories of others, are encouraged to think actively, and to have ownership of their action during the project. In order to maximize personal connection among participants, GiFT limits the number of participants in each course to 20 Japanese students and 12 local students, and creates small groups within the course. Participants visit GiFT’s local partner to learn about the social situation of the destination,  and continues to have dialogue among themselves to co-create new values which would contribute to the local society. By the end of the program, participants discover how to listen to their own voice, and to express it with a variety of means. Getting to know each other on personal level enables participants to connect deeply, and to have empathy beyond borders. The feeling of connection opens eyes to participants’ inner sense of Global Citizenship and helps them to realize the significance of participating in the society. The effect of Diversity Voyage can be seen in participants’ active involvement in their school activities, academic paths and community work after the program. A number of former participants have proceeded to take part in longer study-abroad programs, and have been selected as national representatives of different international exchange programs.

2. Pre and Post Program Training Session for Oversea Study

GiFT provides a special curriculum for Pre-departure and Post-program sessions to maximize the outcome of oversea study programs, trainings, and trips. Pre-departure training (1 day) focuses on the mindset of participants, and prepare them for new learning. Mindset training includes diversity training, team building of participants, goal and mission setting, vision sharing among participants, and others. The Pre-departure training helps participants to see that their learning and growth depend on their attitude and willingness, and that there are teammates for mutual support to reach higher. Post-program training (1 day) focuses on reflection and verbalization of achievements. To realize what they have achieved and gained through the experiences abroad, participants needs to reflect deeply on their learning and discovery. The Post-program training places importance on sharing experiences in their own words so that participants become able to express their learning clearly to others. This 2-day session enables participants to have a clear mindset to learn with own initiative prior to departure, and the ability to express with their own words after the program. This process will help participants to value their overseas experiences further, and prepare for the next steps.

Assessment of Competencies for Global Citizenship

To help participants’ self-realization and progress towards Global Citizenship, GiFT has developed a Self-Assessment sheet with 48 questions regarding 8 core components related to Global Citizenship such as co-creation with different backgrounds, self-autonomy and meta-cognition. The Assessment is to be conducted in Pre and Post program, visualizing their changes of social & emotional and behavioural domains. It also allows participants to see their challenges and growth through their experiences of global education programs.

3. Diversity Training Programs for Faculty/Staff Development

GiFT provides Diversity Training programs (1 day or 2 days) for teachers and others who is willing to develop facilitation skills in the classroom settings, and other places. GiFT focuses on the concept of Global Citizenship and places the importance on learning through dialogue and experience in workshops. The Training Program features unique learning materials of GiFT, of which participants will be allowed the use after the session, together with facilitation tips provided by Diversity Facilitators.

4. Research

Research Paper at Asia Society

GiFT is currently engaged in various research projects. The most recent work is the research paper written on the 21st century competencies for Asia Society. While working as the Japanese representative of the project, GiFT members undertook the cross-functional research on the impact of studying abroad for Japanese students on their global awareness, and on views regarding citizenship towards leadership. The results of the Global Citizenship Self-Assessment were used as the evidence of the case study in the paper. “Advancing 21st Century Competencies in Japan” by Daisuke Kimura and Madoka Tatsuno  More about the research Asia Society- Center for Education- Advancing 21st Century Competencies

5. Other

GiFT provides educational workshops in different parts of Japan to create opportunities for students to feel and express their Global Citizenship. GiFT members are also often invited to Japanese schools and local governments to give lectures and public talks on the topic of Global Citizenship.