　For two weeks from March 9 to 24, I made a research trip to Vietnam at the request of The National Federation of UNESO Associations in Japan; to visit the construction site for Terakoya schools. (Learning Centers) At the school, which is scheduled to open this summer, not only reading and writing but also agriculture will be taught.　The other purpose of my trip was to find out for the teachers what and how to teach in this agriculture class.　Discussions were held among more than ten people including Mr. Okukawa, local representative of the project, two Japanese experts, one in agriculture and the other in bee culture, local government representative, representative and experts from agricultural guidance organizations.　We came up with a conclusion.　

　A total of 40 Terakoya schools are planned to be constructed in Toa Tua and Phong Tho districts of Lai Chau Province situated close to Laos and China…northwestern part of Vietnam.　An hour flight on propeller-driven aircraft from Hanoi will take you to Dien Bien Phu, capital of Lai Chau Province.　 Another 6-hour drive on car will lead you to Tua Chua District.　It is planned to build a Terakoya school at each of 11 villages in the District.　Also it is planned to build a Terakoya school at each of 18 villages in Phong Tho District, 8-hour drive from Dien Bien Phu.　The number of schools here under the plan is 29.

　These car drives are not on highway or speedway by any means.　You must climb up and down on a mountain road along a river turning right and left sharply.　I tried to count the number of passes we crossed but after 7 I gave up because it seemed countless.　The difficult access to these villagesprobably has caused the lowest rate in literacy.

　The progress conditions of 10 schools, which I visited, were more or less the same, because they probably started the same time.　Each school, occupying not very large land space, has 3 classrooms, each of which accommodates 20 to 30 students.　I was pleased to see that foundations of the buildings were completed already and solid brick walls were getting built.　Everywhere I went, I saw several workers were laying bricks for the walls or raising the frameworks.　Toilet rooms and drinking fountains were already completed outside the main buildings.　They were expecting the final completion in April.

　As to the general classes of reading and writing the Vietnam government had prepared both the contents and materials.　An expert of adult education is already working as staff at Mr. Okukawa’s office, so the preparation was 80 to 90% finished.　As to the agriculture-related teaching, which occupies 60% of the total educational operation, however, hardly any preparation was done.　One relief was that the local agricultural extension offices with the cooperation of a Dutch expert sent from a German NGO, were trying to introduce various kinds of crops as test samples and some farmers were willing to try them.　Of course, some problems were immediately found, which called for improvement.　But the important thing is that both the leaders and the farmers seem to understand the need or the basis for agricultural improvement and development.　I could therefore make an optimistic forecast that we may be able to expect fairly early results.

　When we discussed what kind of crops would be promising and profitable, tea, banana, mushroom, and beekeeping were proposed.　After making on-sight inspection, we came to a conclusion that beekeeping would bring the result most certainly and that we should put the emphasis on beekeeping in the agriculture classes of Terakoya schools.

　Last but not the least, I would like to talk about Mr. Okukawa, who is the head of Terakoya project office in Vietnam.　 Mr. Hiroshi Okukawa, 31 years old, working busily as a UNESCO representative, is negotiating with leaders of the Vietnamese government at different levels in stately manner just like first class experts of the international organizations.　Many local leaders, who are calling him by his first name Hiroshi, love him and staff of his office　respect　him deeply.　I have seen many Japanese youths working overseas and he ranks the top among them in terms of leadership.　

　I highly recommend young people, especially those of Meguro UNESCO Association, to learn from Mr. Okukawa what an international cooperation for development is and what an UNESCO spirit will be when put into practice.　(April 29, 2001)

In 2000 Meguro UNESCO Association gave donation of 450,000 Yen for constructing Terakoya schools in Lai Chau Province, which is carried jointly by The National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan and The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).　　　　 (Refer to　2000 Financial Report)