A tour providing African children with knowledge about working at sea.
JRCS as part of its CSR activities, has signed a sponsorship agreement with SOLTILO Co., ltd., a soccer school produced by Japanese professional soccer player Keisuke Honda which operates in Japan and overseas and sponsors the AFRICA DREAM SOCCER TOUR.
The tour has Japanese coaches and gives a free opportunity to children of East African countries to receive football training.
In addition to professional soccer, a profession which is difficult to enter, the aim is to offer choices of occupation, not only soccer classrooms but also program learning and visiting companies and factories.
As one of the opportunities for learning, a study tour was held at the port of Mombasa in Kenya.
The purpose is to have the children wanting to ask questions such as “What kind of occupations are there?”, “How do these goods arrive here”? and “How is overseas trade carried out”?
When children for the first time are confronted by a giant container vessel at sea, with their eyes wide open they ask questions like “What is it used for?” and “What is the size of that ship?”
The realization of the significance of this tour came when one child gave his impression, saying “I am so impressed by the size and strength of the sea being able to support such huge container vessels”. The tour is showing hopes and dreams of an unknown world to these children.
President Kondo, who initiated the tour said, “Kindling an interest in careers related to the sea in these African children will lead to the acquisition and development of human resources for the marine industry. A second study tour is now being planned.
Surprised by the size and scale of everything they see
The excitement of taking a first train ride
Eagerly asking questions