早いもので、シュクルとロドリグの帰国日が来月に迫りました。とても寂しいですが、うれしいニュースもあります。

2019年秋学期から本学に来る学生が決定いたしました！

コンゴ民主共和国出身で、現在、プロテスタント人文?社会科学大学の平和?紛争学科で学んでいるHélène Alinethu Mikanda（ヘレン?アィネトゥ?ミカンダ）さんと、同学開発学部で学んでいるルワンダ人学生のOctave Gahirwe Kabera（オクタブ?ガヒルウェ?カベラ）さんです。2人とも、厳しい選考過程を経て選ばれた優秀な学生です。2019年9月末に来日する予定で、2019年秋学期～2020年春学期の間、本学で学びます。

日本へ来ることを今からとても楽しみにしている2人からメッセージが届きましたので、紹介させていただきます。原文のあとに日本語訳が続きます。

【ヘレン?アィネトゥ?ミカンダさんからのメッセージ】

I am called Hélène Alinethu MIKANDA. I am currently a student in the department of Peace and Conflict Studies; Peacebuilding and Development program at PIASS in Rwanda. I am a young Congolese lady of 19 years old, first born in a family of four children. I am more passionate in peace related activities because I want to have my part of contribution in the peacebuilding process in my region and the entire world; I am also passionate in art related activities because I always want to reflect my imagination. My parents always encouraged me to pursue my education, though it has been not easy to do so because of some financial problems. To mean that I have been able to pursue a quality education because of them doing their best, but also I have got different supports from different people.

It is a great opportunity for me to be an exchange student in Japan. I actually got to know how high the quality of education is in japan from my Japanese classmates and Dr. Kazuyuki Sasaki. That made me so excited for studying in Japan. As I expect more from my stay there, I really want to learn more about peacebuilding strategies and methods, especially from the history of Japanese. Since I am from a conflict region where violence has become like a lifestyle of the population from many years, as a Congolese and as a Great Lakes Region citizen, I really want to learn how to fight against violence without using violence.
After my studies in Japan, having my learning experiences, I will share those new and improved knowledge and skills with my classmates and nearby friends. But also, I will put them into practice in my project of Peace Youth Club that I have started in my community, and also initiate a program of fighting against violence without using violence under Congo Peace Network, a civil society organization in Democratic Republic of Congo, in which I am volunteering.

To all the people who are doing their best to make my stay in Japan happen, to all the people who want to make my stay in Japan be great; to each and every person who will support my studies in Japan, I really appreciate your support and I want to say Arigato Gozaimasu. Your contribution will never be forgotten in my heart.