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JICA Volunteers in Palau

◆Alii from Palau!

Takanori Satoh
Environmental Education, Palau International Coral Reef Center
Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer

　　　The first time I became aware of the country “Palau” was when I was still in university writing my thesis. My mentor at the time recommended me an essay which dated back to 1937. The writer was Doctor Shiro Kawaguti, who was a researcher at the Palau Tropical Biological Station (PTBS) when Palau was under Japanese Administration. Reading this report, the excitement and strong motivation of Dr. Kawaguti trying to find out everything about a creature called coral was delivered directly to me after 60 years of time. Since then, I have been wishing to visit Palau when I have a chance. Over 10 years have passed and I am so grateful to be involved in the environmental education of coral reefs in Palau, my long time dream has come true.

　　　I work at the Education Department at the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC). I work with the Department Chief and an assistant. Our main task is to promote and raise awareness of coral reefs and the protection of the surrounding environment through various programs. You may already be aware of the Arts & Tide calendars that we make every year! My daily tasks includes supporting PICRC’s activities in environmental education, public relations activities such as taking photographs and managing the PICRC website, and sometimes even supporting the research division’s fieldwork and data analysis.

　　　 As a JICA volunteer, I am especially working hard on the effective use of the Palau Aquarium as an environmental education facility. I guide the tourists around the aquarium, exchange opinions with guide staff from tour companies, and from these informations I consider ways to improve the aquarium and discuss with my colleagues. I am also working on creating Japanese information boards and brochures for the Japanese visitors. Currently, Palau Aquarium is making many renovations to improve the facility. Recently we opened a “touch tank” and are working on improving exhibitions so please look forward to the Palau Aquarium’s change!

　　　In the weekend, I play sports. On Sunday evenings, I join the Palau Football Association and play in the soccer league. Soccer is still not a common sport in Palau, but since it is one of the most favored sports around the world, I can meet with people from all over the world that lives in Palau. It is a nice change of atmosphere and different experience from my work. Other times, I go sea kayaking. I sometimes visit the Nikko Bay where the PTBS researchers used to have field studies and think about the time they were here. We can still find the painted numbers that they used for their surveys!

　　　My time in Palau is soon to finish, but in the remaining time, I would like to keep working on raising awareness of the Palauans and to the increasing number of tourists, the importance of coral reefs. Coral reefs are precious resources of Palau and I hope they can stay in good condition forever.