Our Town Inagi 2017 Tomoya Hirakawa

Bringing the Joy of Science to Children in Kenya

Mr. Hirakawa, a resident of Koyodai, has been dispatched to teach science in Kenya, East Africa, as a JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) volunteer for two years starting from January 2017.
The assignment is at a public primary school (8-year system) in Runyenjes, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, where science is taught to children aged 10 to 14. The assigned school has many children from families dedicated to education, and it is a school that achieves excellent results in the exams conducted at graduation within the region.
Mr. Hirakawa strongly expressed, "I want to convey the joy of science to children using what is available on-site. I would be delighted if one of my students develops an interest in science and wins a Nobel Prize." Additionally, after returning to Japan, he looks forward to sharing his experiences in Kenya and the wonders of nature with Japanese children by taking photos of the local scenery and wildlife.
Let us all support Mr. Hirakawa's efforts to promote education development in Kenya, far away from Japan.