By: Raika Chowdhury (Yr13)
“JENESYS Programme” (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) is a student and youth exchange project designed to strengthen solidarity between East Asia and Southeast Asia through the promotion of mutual understanding among younger generations in the region.
The Japanese exchange students visited our ODC after watching videos about it on YouTube, and several other organizations recommended the visit. The purpose of their visit was for the Japanese students to learn about how different countries and cultures address global warming and to understand sustainable practices. They aimed to engage in discussions and exchange sustainable ideas between the two countries to foster mutual learning.
The Japanese students expressed gratitude for the opportunity to visit the ODC and were impressed by the efforts being made there.
They highlighted the absence of outdoor spaces like the ODC in Japanese schools or universities and expressed their intention to propose and implement something similar upon their return to Japan.
During their visit, the Japanese students observed that Bruneians tend to be generous with food portions. While they appreciated the hospitality, they noted that this practice contributes to significant food waste as people often do not finish their meals. In response, they prepared a presentation on "Mottainai," which translates to "Don't waste what is valuable." This concept encourages taking reasonable food portions and making an effort to finish meals without waste. Something the JIS community can most definitely apply in their day-to-day!
In addition to promoting mindful eating, our JIS students suggested incorporating composting into daily life as a means to reduce food waste. They were particularly impressed by the ODC's composting practices, as JIS students demonstrated a high level of understanding in this area.
We hope the Japanese students left with a valuable lesson on sustainability, emphasizing the importance of mindful consumption and waste reduction and they commended the ODC for its commendable efforts. Lastly, we hope our students took away useful tips and tricks taught by their wonderful Japanese peers as well.
どうもありがとうございます!