On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, the "2023 First Follow-Up Training for Coordinators of School and Community Collaboration" was held as part of a human resource development program offered by the Gifu Center for collaborative activities between communities and schools (GIFU CCCS).

GIFU CCCS is jointly operated by Gifu Prefecture and Gifu University in order to support and promote school and community collaboration for sound growth of children and revitalization of the community.

The participants of this follow-up training already completed all training by the end of last fiscal year, and are now playing an active role in administration for social education, public facilities, schools and community in many parts of Gifu Prefecture as promoters and coordinators of school and community collaboration. A total of 46 people attended the first follow-up training on June 20.

Ms. SHISHIDA Manami from the National Institute for Educational Policy Research, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology was invited as a guest speaker and she spoke about how to secure and foster volunteer people for the promotion of school and community collaboration.

After her speech, the participants discussed how to make their activities more rewarding, and help volunteer people to enjoy their activities. Ms. Shishida fielded questions from the participants and shared some case examples with them.

The following are the feedback from the participants: "I would like to make our community a source of pride for children by working together with my friends." "I will figure out what I can do and start my activity."

The second follow-up training is scheduled in January 2024. We hope that all participants keep on playing their part in their respective communities and workplace by making the most of what they have learned from the training.