Students from Showa Women's University travelled to Tanzania for a one-week visit to meet pupils supported by the university’s Tanzania Sakura Girls Secondary School Support Project, after more than two and a half years working together remotely.
What happened on the trip
The delegation, made up of university students involved in the project, used the visit to move beyond the single annual online exchange that had previously connected the two institutions. During the stay the team:
- attended a junior high graduation and the high school completion ceremony at Sakura Girls Secondary School;
- delivered Japanese cultural classes and nutrition sessions, including cooking curry;
- observed celebrations that contrasted with typical Japanese graduation rituals, where pupils sang and danced.
"I want to meet them in person; I want to feel the local breeze."
The project has also channelled funds raised from university bazaars directly into the students’ education and sought to increase awareness and networks around the scheme. Organisers said expanding the circle of connection was as important as the financial support.
Context and implications
The visit highlights how university-level initiatives can combine fundraising, cultural exchange and practical workshops to support girls’ schooling abroad. For the Showa Women’s University team, the trip offered a chance to witness the daily lives of the Tanzanian students they have backed and to strengthen ties that had previously been largely virtual.
For parents, educators and student groups considering similar partnerships, this case emphasises a few practical points: sustained commitment matters, in-person contact can deepen relationships built online, and a mixture of fundraising and awareness-raising activities can underpin long-term support.
Project snapshot
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Partner institutions | Showa Women's University and Sakura Girls Secondary School |
| Duration of recent visit | One week |
| Prior engagement | One online cultural exchange annually; over two and a half years of project activity |
| Activities on visit | Cultural classes, nutrition sessions, attendance at graduation ceremonies |
The trip served both to celebrate the pupils’ progress and to provide Japanese student volunteers with firsthand insight into the realities of supporting girls’ education in Tanzania.
