SEAPCP COMMUNITY ORGANISING

Mr. Makoto Arakaki (An Interview)

He was born in Naha city (in Okinawa Japan). After graduating from high school, he went to UCLA, USA to study about the minority issues in America. Since 2004 until now he has been involved in the present activities. In 2005 he established an international Network NGO called “ONE LOVE” together with his students based on the theory of international relationships. He is 43 yeas old and lives in Nakashiro village, Okinama prefecture.

We cannot just be strong leaders but it is essential to build up a closer connection to the other party

Mr. Makoto Arakaki

Pofessor of Okinawa Christian University.

He takes his students to other Asia counties and is also active as a community Organiser.

1. How did you start this activity?

In 2006, my Filipino friend asked me to join a program for local youth to learn to stand on their own feet in the slum areas in Manila. I went and saw for myself the problems there such as gangsterism, drug addiction and others.

I would just cook soup with young people and sell it to their neighbors but actually they could not make much money. So I brought my student there and made them discuss about what they can do together with the slum community people. We started to make accessories like a holder for a hand phone and try to sell it in Japan. I stayed there with my students. The young people there are discriminated against and their neighbors would feel afraid and stay away from them. These young people continued their exchange with my students and gradually they grew more self-confidence.

I participated in a community organizing training program organized by SEAPCP in Indonesia in 2007 and in Malaysia in 2009.

2. A Community Organizer is not a social activist leader?

A Community Organizer can not be a strong leader. CO work is to facilitate people to become aware of the problems among themselves and encourage them to plan a strategy of what can be done.

3. What kind of activity you do in Okinawa?

Okinawa has some significant issues such the US bases, the destruction of the environment and development and others. So we are always in the front line of civil society movement. Many activists support from outside and we help the residents to see the difference between the positive and the negative factors. It is sometimes very difficult to use CO approaches. I encourage my students to participate in these activities including being abroad in the Philippines to improve their awareness about the common issues between them and Okinawa.

4. Do you think need there is a need to build closer relations with other Community Organizers in Asia?

There is exploitation of people everywhere because of the free trade agreement between countries and multinational corporations on a global level. It is essential to build up a closer connection between local people to fight against these big enemies. The participants of SEAPCP training were from Mongolia, India, and other SEA countries. The network linkages remain closely and strong.

(Interviewer: Mr.Nishiyama, Asaha Shimbun)