I had just returned to Japan after participating in the Service Learning Program (SLP) in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Every moment of the experience was one of encountering the unknown: the red soil covering a significant portion of the scenery, the colourful array of tropical fruits adorning the table in the dining hall, the sensation on my bare feet touching the ground as I stepped indoors, and the echoes of other delegates’ names as they warmly and enthusiastically introduced themselves to me. Even within the first 10 minutes of arriving at Xavier Learning Community, countless images, physical sensations, and emotions rushed into my mind, jumping around and refusing to settle. These visual images, physical sensations, and intense emotions are the fruits I gained throughout the programme, and they remain vivid within me.
Before participating in SLP, everything I was about to encounter seemed like mere words in a textbook or labels I had heard in passing: the indigenous ethnic tribes of Northern Thailand, the Mekong River, the border, the Opium War, night bazaars, the diverse nationalities represented by the delegates, the status of being non-religious, and so much more. While I was familiar with these terms, I had not truly grasped the depth of their significance. SLP gave me the opportunity to listen to the real voices and the stories that lie behind these labels.
Among them are the people actively working to challenge the prevailing social injustices. For instance, visiting The Mekong School and listening to Niwat Roykaew, fondly called Khru Ti, opened my eyes to the gravity of the challenges faced by those living along the river. These difficulties arise from conflicting interests that revolve around personal gain and self-interest. When I asked him a question, I came to realise how multilayered the issue is, leaving me perplexed and humbled by the seemingly insurmountable nature of this widespread problem. However, at the same time, I was strongly moved by the determination and dedication reflected in his eyes. His genuine call for the younger generation to maintain their sensitivity to global issues continues to resonate deeply within me.
This is just one of the countless realisations I experienced in the past three weeks, and the list goes on—from immersing myself in the rich cultures of the indigenous people to the enthralling bedtime conversations I shared with my roommate and much more. However, the chief message I now carry with me is to truly see and not merely look at the injustices happening everywhere in the world and to actively ponder what I, even in small steps, can contribute. Participating in the programme ignited a drive within me to learn more, both academically and culturally, to foster positive change for the common good.
Kaho Yoshikawa is a student at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, studying in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and planning to major in Social Studies. She participated in the 12th Service Learning Program, organised by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Asia Pacific, from 7 to 26 August and hosted by Xavier Learning Community in Chiang Rai, Thailand.