JICA Volunteer's Essay ( Ms. Mizuki Honda)

 
I was assigned to Palau Track and Field Association from July 2017 to July 2019. My activity as a JICA Volunteer was to develop children’s athletics, coach the national team and to help organize running and walking events such as Walk for Life.
 
In Palau, track and field is less popular than sports such as baseball, basketball or volleyball, and is often considered as a substitute sports event. However, I tried to develop Kids Athletics for children under 13 years old, because “running, jumping and throwing” are basic skills for any kind of sports. In general, it is said that children should experience as many sports as possible while they are in elementary school. Therefore, by sharing the enjoyment of track and field through Kids Athletics, I had hopes that the children would take their first steps to love sports. At the same time, watching the children enjoy running, jumping and throwing made me recall the starting line to simply enjoy sports.
 
Talking about coaching the national team, athletes and I did our best to take part in games such as the Micro Games and the Pacific Games. Through my two years activity, I felt that although Palauan athletes had the opportunities to participate in both national and international competitions, they were often not taking the advantages fully. When one wants to accomplish something, I think it is important for one to keep making efforts and to never give up. Nevertheless, for Palauan athletes, although they had good potentials, I felt that they were throwing their chances away. Of course, some athletes kept on trying, improved their skills little by little and broke their records. Seeing those hard working athletes made me feel that I want to encourage them and I want all my athletes to be such athletes, who make others want to encourage and support them. Furthermore, athletes who strive for their dreams cannot drive theirselves forward only by what is taught by their coaches. They need supports from their family, relatives, friends and community. Next year, 2020 Tokyo Olympic is going to be held in Japan and I hope I would be able to meet the athletes in Japan again.
 
Through the two years I lived in Palau, I learned and experienced a lot. Being used to the “Palauan time” wasn’t always easy, but through the life in Palau, I have learnt that what I thought as common sense was not always the same to others. I would not have found this out if I were not living in Palau, working and spending the time together with the Palauan people.
 
Finally, I would like to convey my great appreciation to my host family who accepted me as their family, co-workers in Palau Track and Field Association who gave me opportunities to gain a lot of experience, athletes who joined my track program and all the people who I have met in Palau. I am very thankful for all the experiences. Sometimes I wanted to go back to Japan, but now it’s sad to leave. Palau is my second hometown. I’m looking forward to meeting you all again. Kom kmal mesulang.