By Staff Writer
Japan’s international aid agency, JICA, has offered scholarship awards to four local recipients for future leadership roles.
Three recipients will undertake studies for Masters and one for a Bachelor’s degree.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) Global Leaders Programme 2022 will be behind Master’s studies for Jun Ho Gregory Kim – Master’s Program, Public Health, St Luke’s International Universityand Gracia Monalisa Une – Master’s Program, Life Science Innovation (Biomolecular Engineering), Tsukuba University.
Gafatasi Sua is taking up a Bachelor’s Program, International Management, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.
The fourth recipient, Bhavana Sanele Taavili is studying under a Master’s Program, Regional Development Studies, Toyo University.
A total of 15 Samoan Nationals have so far been awarded scholarships under the SDGs program since 2016.
Ms. Sanele Taavili is the first Samoan to be awarded scholarship under the Clean Cities Program since it started earlier this year.
The SDGs Program & Clean Cities Program are specifically designed for leaders of Pacific Island Countries for human resource capacity development. Participants are expected to contribute to the socio-economic development of their country, actively engaging in policy formulation and implementation of social and economic development policies when they complete their studies and return to their country. In essence, participants are trained to be future leaders so they can help shape the future of their country’s development.
Through each program, young leaders are also able to understand Japanese society, learn about common interests and work towards common goals. Each program has an internship component to enrich participant’s academic and personal experience.
SDGs & Clean Cities are part of JICA’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) to countries in Pacific Islands and are implemented under the Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP) long-term training.