New JICA Volunteers Dispatched to the Federated States of Micronesia

Press Release #0710-03
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
July 2, 2010

Palikir, Pohnpei (JICA): July 2, 2010.  JICA Micronesia has welcomed four new members of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) and one Senior Volunteer (SV) into the Federated States of Micronesia, mainly for Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap.

The JOCV program has been established in the FSM since November of 1989, and the SV program was later added in 2001.  The JICA Volunteer program’s objective is to provide technical cooperation and actively support work for nation-building and human development in the FSM.  Hence, the education sector of Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap requested JOCV volunteers in the field of elementary education.

On the environmental focus, JICA has had a success story with Kosrae’s waste management largely due to the Fukuoka Method which was implemented by JICA experts.  This time, Yap EPA will soon benefit from Senior Volunteer Hiroshi Terakoshi, an expert in solid waste management, especially in the disposal of hazardous materials and recycling.

The new JOCV members, all specialized in elementary education, and the new SV member arrived in Pohnpei on June 23, 2010, and will be dispatched to their respective posts during the first week of July.  They have been assigned as follows: Shuichi Matsumoto to Malem Elementary School in Kosrae; Haruko Maruyama to Ohmine Elementary School in Pohnpei; Hidenori Takushi to Awak Elementary School in Pohnpei; Kaori Shimizu to Gaanelay Rull Comm. School in Yap; and SV Hiroshi Terakoshi, specialized in Solid Waste Management, to Yap EPA.

JICA is an agency of the Government of Japan responsible for implementing technical cooperation, grant aid and yen loan programs of Japan’s ODA to developing countries.  JICA is the world’s largest bilateral development organization, operating in some 150 countries to help some of the globe’s most vulnerable people. Its core professional staff works hand in hand with dispatched Japanese personnel, experts and volunteers and local staff in the overseas office in promoting human security which is incorporated in about a hundred on-going cooperation programs.

For more information please contact Minako Sakurai at (691)320-5350.