The Status of ARI’s 2020 Training Program

Network e-Bulletin, April 2020, No. 5

Message from Tomoko Arakawa

Greetings from all of us at ARI. We sincerely hope that you and your families are staying healthy in these challenging times. We would like to update you on how ARI is responding to COVID-19.

https://gyazo.com/c2febc2191dbe3edd4add1efeddb4ce8

Community building event under the cherry blossoms

ARI will hold the 2020 Rural Leaders Training Program. As of April 3, eight overseas Participants were able to make it to the campus from their respective countries. Additionally, two Japanese Participants enrolled, making a total of ten. With these ten participants, ARI has decided to start the school year on May 1, 2020. The one-month delay was to allow time for the possibility of others to come.

Unfortunately, worldwide, COVID-19 containment efforts became tighter throughout the month making it difficult for most other candidates to travel to Japan. Some of them are from countries whose governments went on lockdown. In other cases, their visas were invalidated by the Japanese government, because of strict controls limiting entry to Japan. Sadly, we have had to ask more than half of those enrolled to defer to the 2021 Training Program.

Dozo from India feeding the pigs / Martin from Kenya harvesting mustard flowers

The Opening Ceremony will be held on May 1, celebrated only by those of us within the ARI community. An activity schedule has been prepared for April and all are following. Orientations have begun, as well as intensive English classes and farm work.

Adherence to countermeasures for COVID-19 on the campus have necessitated many changes in daily life, such as constant social distancing, holding of morning gathering outside, wearing a mask during any gathering, classes or cooking, and frequent hand washing and disinfecting.

Our ARI spirit is not dampened, however. If anything, it is strengthened and more deeply valued, as we find new and creative ways to live according to our motto That We May Live Together.

Ryo san (Graduate Intern) from Japan harvesting veggies / Sailove from Rwanda mixing livestock feed

Though this year may be the smallest class, if we look at ARI’s history we find that the first three years also had lower numbers: 1973 (ARI's first year) had 16. 1974 had 13 and 1975 had 11. The next smallest class was in 2011, the year of the earthquake, when ARI had 19.

We are getting reports that folks in rural areas where our graduates live are experiencing great difficulty. Transportation has been shut down, including for food and other necessities causing shortages and high prices. Now, more than ever, good leadership and food self-sufficiency are critical. It is during crises like these we can see the real dedication of ARI graduates as they step up to assist their people, illustrated in the messages of this e-Bulletin.

We are resolute in our commitment to keep ARI running; to train rural leaders who will go back to their communities to serve their people. This year’s class will receive the full benefit of a complete training program given with our utmost effort. Just as a single seed produces fruit and multiplies, we know that these Participants, though few in number, will do the same. Through them, ARI will reach hundreds, even thousands!

We wish you and your loved ones safe passage through these difficult times.

Community event day - Kaori (ARI Staff) and Joshua from Ghana / Agus from Indonesia