‘Welcome to our JET family!’ an alumna of the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme told the new JET Programme participants in her send-off speech. Her comment rings very true.
Every JET Programme participant has a different hometown, different experiences before and during JET Programme employment, a different region to which they are deployed, and spend different lengths of time in Japan. Every JET Programme participant also learns different Japanese local culture, a different Japanese dialect, and become involved in their local community in different ways. However, one thing that I hope all JET Programme participants have in common is the experience of forming a profound bond with not only their local Japanese community, but their fellow participants and Programme alumni. Although experiences on the JET Programme can vary immensely from placement to placement, I hope that all participants can make precious, meaningful memories of their ‘second home’ in Japan.
It is also quite common that JET Programme alumni go on to advise and support new and current JET Programme participants. Even after their JET Programme employment ends, many former participants reunite, promote the program, and become advocates for cultural exchange between Japan and their country of residence through the JET Alumni Association.
Participants and alumni all share a mutual interest in Japan and nuanced understanding of the country and language. They are driven individuals with a strong desire to help one another and make a positive contribution to society, and are often involved in cultural exchange activities between Japan and other countries. In many ways, they are just like a family.
Thanks to over three decades of excellent work by participants, the JET Programme has grown to become one of the world’s largest international exchange programs, and has an excellent reputation both in Japan and overseas. The JET family has grown with the Programme, and members should be proud of their vital role in this. For CLAIR, it is important for us to support the JET family members, new and current JET Programme participants and members of the JET Alumni Association chapters, so that they can smoothly coordinate with each other to further enhance the JET Programme. We aim to support the JET family to have more opportunities to work together to uphold the reputation of the Programme, and to be bridges of cultural exchange between Japan and the world.
*For detail of the JET Programme, please see the link below.
