A Valued Partner in Southeast Asia
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Established in August 1988, the JICA Alumni Society of
Malaysia (myJICA) has grown over the years to 1,080 members. In
addition to regular activities, such as the holding of general meetings
and directors’ meetings, it also organizes parties for members and
undertakes philanthropic activities, such as blood donation drives and
assistance for tsunami victims.
It also promotes participation in the JICA-Net digital
communications network that enables simultaneous multilateral
conferences and distance training and is actively involved in
development education. It also operates its own website (http://www.myjica.net/modules/news/), which introduces new members, provides a forum for the exchange of opinions, and offers frequent updates on current
news and topics.
In 2005 new activities were launched by myJICA, including efforts to
promote the independence of people with physical disabilities by
reinforcing massage and sign language training in collaboration with
physically disabled alumni.
On September 20, 10 members of the alumni association, led by
President Abdul Kadir Taib, visited JICA Headquarters in Tokyo to make
a report of its activities. Dr. Kadir described myJICA’s efforts to
contribute actively to JICA projects and expressed a desire for further
collaboration between JICA and the alumni association. JICA, too, hopes
to enhance coordination with myJICA in the coming years and to work
with alumni members as project partners.
It is hoped that myJICA will expand its contact with
other alumni associations and serve as a model for good practices not
only in ASEAN but other regions as well.
JICA